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Urgent need to fill special education teacher vacancies gets boost with program extension

October 30, 2024 in Press Releases

Special education teacher (and I-SEAL participant) Andrew Bova helps his class learn about adjectives by describing items from a bag at Perry Meridian Middle School.

The Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis announced the extension of the Indiana Special Education Assisted Licensure (I-SEAL) initiative in partnership with the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE).

I-SEAL seeks to increase the number of credentialed special education teachers, meeting an urgent need for many Indiana schools and students. Based on the statewide Indiana Educator Job Board, there were more than 300 special education job openings across Indiana at the time of publication. Since I-SEAL’s inception in 2021, more than 500 individuals have completed coursework to earn special education licensure – at no cost to them or their school.

Individuals can complete streamlined graduate coursework for special education licensure, with tuition and textbook costs fully covered through the program. Many courses are available online and in an asynchronous format to meet the needs of busy educators working to add on special education licensure.

“The I-SEAL licensure program is a vital step toward addressing the critical shortage of special education teachers,” said Dana Vittorio, director of special education for Perry Township Schools. “By equipping educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the unique needs of our students, we can ensure that every child receives a high-quality education tailored to their individual strengths and challenges.”

Special education teacher (and I-SEAL participant) Andrew Bova helps his class learn about adjectives by describing items from a bag at Perry Meridian Middle School.
Special education teacher (and I-SEAL participant) Andrew Bova helps his class learn about adjectives by describing items from a bag at Perry Meridian Middle School.

I-SEAL provides funding for 18 graduate credit hours for educators who want to add Exceptional Children: Mild Intervention to their existing licensure. I-SEAL also offers a limited amount of scholarship funding for coursework toward additional licensure such as intense intervention and test preparation workshops. The ultimate goal is to help schools get more special education teachers into the classroom.

Through the I-SEAL program, teachers like Andrew Bova (pictured right) at Perry Meridian Middle School have been able to complete graduate coursework to earn special education licensure. Bova’s story was recently profiled by Chalkbeat Indiana.

“Having this program enables us to continuously develop educators who can fill these essential positions,” Vittorio said.

The I-SEAL program was initially funded by the Indiana Department of Education in October 2021. In three years, more than 1,1100 individuals entered the program, and 590 completed coursework for special education licensure. Demand for the program quickly exceeded capacity, with a growing waitlist of individuals hoping to participate. The extension brings IDOE’s total investment to $15.5 million and opens seats for the program to serve approximately 450 more educators.

“Schools across the state are grappling with a critical shortage of qualified special education teachers,” said Carey Dahncke, executive director at CELL. “By streamlining coursework and removing funding barriers, I-SEAL continues to be a lifeline for students and schools, helping to accelerate the number of qualified teachers into classrooms. Thanks to the Indiana Department of Education’s ongoing support and partnership, we will continue to grow and expand I-SEAL, helping many more people start a career as a special education teacher.” 

Interested individuals can learn more and apply for the program by visiting the I-SEAL website.