Director of Special Education Endorsement
NLU offers coursework suitable for candidates interested in earning the State of Illinois Director of Special Education endorsement.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
1. Facilitating a Vision of Educational Excellence. The competent director of special education is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of educational excellence that is shared and supported by the school community.
2. Learning Environment and Instructional Program. The competent director of special education is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by advocating and nurturing a constantly improving learning environment and an instructional program based upon educationally sound principles of curriculum development and modifications, learning and teaching theory, and professional development.
3. Knowledge of Laws, Regulations, and Professional Ethics. The competent director of special education has a thorough knowledge of federal and State statutes affecting the education of students with disabilities.
4. Identification of Students and Provision of Services. The competent director of special education has a thorough knowledge of identification procedures, service delivery models, and assistive technology for students with disabilities.
5. Special Education Finance. The competent director of special education has a thorough knowledge of school finance procedures, understands special education funding, and demonstrates the ability to develop and manage a budget.
6. Management. The competent director of special education is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, effective and least restrictive learning environment.
7. Collaboration with Families and Communities. The competent director of special education is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.
In addition to the National Louis University Graduate Admission Requirements, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:
- Hold an Illinois Professional Education License (PEL) endorsed in the following areas: LBSI, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, Speech and Language Pathologist, or School Nurse
- Submit documentation of a minimum of two years of full-time experience providing special education services as a special education teacher, or speech-language pathologist, or school counselor, or school nurse, or school social worker, or school psychologist on an Illinois PEL License valid at the time of the work experience. Documentation from employer at the time the experience was attained is required.
- Hold a master's degree or higher from an accredited institution
- Sign and submit the employment disclosure form
Program Details:
- Requires 15 SH for completion
- Requires a grade of "B" or better in all coursework
- Requires passing of the Director of Special Education content test (#180)
Director of Special Education
Required Coursework
| SPE 527 | Curriculum Adaptations in the Least Restrictive Environment | 3 |
| SPE 544 | School Finance for Special Education Administrators | 3 |
| SPE 549 | Legal Aspects of Administration and Supervision of Programs for Exceptional Children, Adolescents | 3 |
| SPE 561 | Administration and Supervision of Programs for Exceptional Children, Adolescents and Young Adults | 3 Semester Hours |
| EDL 597 | Director of Special Education Internship | 1 TO 3 |
Note: EDL 597 must be taken for a total of 3SH.
Program related policies:
- Students will be required to complete a supervised field experience, EDL 597, to be completed in conjunction with SPE 544, SPE 549 and SPE 561. EDL 597 will be offered for 1 SH to be co-registered with these courses. Students are required to complete a total of 3 SH of EDL 597 for program completion.
- Students enrolled in SPE 527, Special Education methods, also required in the program, will complete a field experience and assignment that specifically relates to special education instruction.
- Successful completion of field experiences and program assessments will be documented in a cumulative portfolio document that will be completed in the context of the program courses.
- All students will be required to take SPE 544, SPE 549, SPE 561 and EDL 597 at NLU. Transfer credit will not be accepted for these courses.
- For students with the LBSI endorsement, SPE 527 requirement can be transferred in given the individual’s courses and experience in special education teaching. Documentation of field experience component or portfolio component in instructional methodology is required to meet field experience for the DOSE program completion. If documentation of field hours is not available, portfolio will include documentation of knowledge and skills in special education instructional methodology attained during professional practice. Transfer credit for SPE 527 is available only for endorsement purposes.