Indiana Licensure in Exceptional Needs: Mild Intervention K-12

The Mild Interventions K-12 teaching license program, approved by the Indiana Department of Education Office of Educator and Licensing and Development, includes successful completion of 28 to 29 credit hours of coursework. Candidates attend classes with a cohort of peers, beginning with the fall course, Historical Perspectives, Etiology, and Characteristics of Individuals with Mild Disabilities.

This is not a “stand alone” program; candidates for this license must hold a valid teaching license or be admitted to a Transition to Teach program.

Candidates seeking a license as a special education teacher must be formally admitted to the program (please see How to Apply to Licensure Programs in Special Education). Graduate coursework successfully completed for the license may count toward a graduate degree, as well (subject to policies and procedures governing the master’s program).

Chair of Special Education, Tom Mihail, will evaluate your transcripts to identify previous coursework that may fulfill state requirements and determine needed courses.

Curriculum and Assessment

Standards-Based Curriculum

Candidates seeking the Mild Intervention K-12 license demonstrate mastery of the Indiana Department of Education standards for Teachers of Students with Exceptional Needs and Graduate Studies in Education Standards. Syllabi reflect these standards and include key assignments to be submitted through TaskStream, an online assessment system.

TaskStream is a program evaluation tool which supports accreditation documentation and encourages candidates to create an electronic portfolio. Whether you create a portfolio is optional; however, as a candidate for licensure, you will be required to use the system to submit specific artifacts (assignments) in your courses, as directed by your instructors. A TaskStream account costs $75, which is good for two years, with an option for renewal. To get an account, please make arrangements to see Virginia Rhodes (rhodesv@calumet.purdue.edu or 989-2326) in the Graduate Studies in Education office (ANNX-122).

Candidates may also complete a Master of Science in Special Education, which requires additional courses.

Performance-Based Assessment

Course syllabi contain one or more assignments which are scored using a rubric that documents successful performance on the State standards toward licensure. These artifacts include papers, projects, computer-based teaching materials, videotaped instruction, K-12 student products, and evidence of reflective practice.

Unit Assessment System (Gates)

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Indiana Office of Educator Licensing and Development require that a unit assessment system provides for a data driven monitoring system for all candidates. Our unit assessment system includes three gates through which the candidates must successfully pass to enter, move forward in, and complete, the licensing program.

Admission, Retention, and Completion

Admission (Gate 1)

This is a cohort program, with a new group of candidates being admitted each fall. However, due to the critical shortage of special education teachers in our area, a rolling admissions policy for related courses which are not a part of the special education core will be maintained to support the needs of special education teachers who are employed on an emergency permit and those who wish to become special educators. This means candidates may enter the program during spring or summer enrollment periods for courses addressing supported inclusive education, literacy problems, and math methods. To be formally admitted to the program, candidates are expected to:

1. hold a valid teaching license or be admitted to a Transition to Teach program;
2. be admitted to the School of Education’s Department of Graduate Studies in Education (please see Entering Our Programs); and
3. submit an application for admission to the licensure program (available at http://www.calumet.purdue.edu/education/grad/spedforms/mildapp.pdf).

Retention (Gate 2)

Once admitted, in order to continue in the program, the candidate must meet the following requirements, which are evaluated at the halfway point of each candidate’s licensure program (completion of five specific courses):

1. maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) grade point average; and
2. earn a minimum 2.0 (competent) average e-portfolio score (rubric scores are 3 = exemplary; 2 = competent; 1 = developing; 0=unacceptable).

Completion of Program / Approval for Licensure (Gate 3)

To be recommended to the State of Indiana for Mild Intervention K-12 Licensure, the candidate must meet the following requirements:

1. successfully complete all required coursework;
2. successfully complete supervised teaching or internship in special education;
3. achieve a minimum 3.0 (B) grade point average; and
4. achieve a minimum 2.0 (competent) average e-portfolio score, providing evidence of professional performance on criteria associated with

• Department of Graduate Studies in Education Standards and
• Indiana Department of Education standards for Teachers of Students with Exceptional Needs: Mild Intervention.

When program requirements are met, the candidate contacts Kim Wasniak, our Licensing Advisor (edlicensing@calumet.purdue.edu or 219-989-2335), for support and assistance with the licensure application process.

Coursework meets Indiana licensure requirements. Candidates seeking licensure in another state are advised to check with that state for requirements.

License in Exceptional Needs: Mild Interventions (K-12): The Courses

EDPS 260 Introduction to Special Education OR
EDPS 591A Integrating Students with Special Needs

EDPS 591B Historical Perspectives, Etiology, and Characteristics of Individuals with Mild Disabilities (Prerequisite: EDPS 260 or EDPS 591A)

EDPS 563 Identification, Evaluation, and Assessment of Individuals with Exceptionalities (Prerequisites: EDPS 260 or EDPS 591A and EDPS 591B)

EDPS 565 Intervention Strategies and Research (Prerequisite: EDPS 260 or EDPS 591A)

EDPS 591D Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers (Prerequisites: EDPS 260 or EDPS 591A)

EDCI 591 Literacy Problems: Evaluation and Remediation (or pass Praxis II Reading Specialist)

EDCI 511 Mathematics in the Elementary School (or pass Praxis II Mathematics Content)

EDPS 664B Seminar in Special Education: Collaboration (Prerequisites: EDPS 260 or EDPS 591A and EDPS 591B)

EDPS 566 Supervised Teaching in Special Education (4 credit hours) OR
EDPS 590 Internship in Special Education (Candidates in a special education teaching position on an emergency permit are eligible for the internship alternative, in which they are observed, mentored, and evaluated by a university supervisor while “on the job.” Written assignments are also required.)
(Prerequisites: Completion of coursework above)

SUMMARY: NINE COURSES (27-28 CREDIT HOURS)

Indiana requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification for licensure. Candidates who have not successfully completed an early childhood course are required to take EDCI 212 (Introduction to Early Education) or its equivalent. This accounts for the “K” in “K-12.”

Graduate courses above may also be counted toward the Master of Science in Special Education, a 33 credit hour program.