More students have access to a high-quality special education teacher following investments in Indiana’s educator pipeline

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) recently provided an update on the state’s special education teacher pipeline and the targeted solutions that are showing a positive return on investment, connecting schools with high-quality special education teacher candidates and maximizing learning for students. 

“When we looked at our state data, we knew that we had a challenge when it came to recruiting special education teachers,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Rather than admiring the problem, we brought together educators and key partners to help us find solutions. In just a few years, our data now shows that our investments are working, placing many more special education teachers in Indiana classrooms.”

In 2022, Indiana launched the statewide educator supply and demand marketplace, providing real-time data for the first time ever on the most in-demand educator and school staff roles across the state. In addition to helping schools widely post faculty and staff vacancies, districts and the state better understand the real-time demand for specific positions, the marketplace also allows stakeholders to better understand the supply. Since its launch, the marketplace has been integral in helping the state to identify and triage high-need areas, including special education teachers, as well as English learner and STEM teachers. Of the approximately 1,400 open Indiana teacher positions currently posted to the marketplace, nearly 300 are specific to special education. 

In response to this data, Indiana has invested in two initiatives, I-SEAL and ASSET, aimed specifically at increasing the number of special education teachers in Indiana classrooms. In just three years, these investments have produced an additional 1,600 current and future special education teachers in Indiana, directly impacting nearly 50,000 students. IDOE partners with the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis to offer the Indiana Special Education Assisted Licensure (I-SEAL) program to teachers. I-SEAL streamlines the required coursework for teachers to earn full special education licensure and provides financial assistance and scholarships to educators while they complete these requirements. While teaching in the classroom, I-SEAL participants are either enrolled in a traditional higher education program or a Transition to Teaching program. To date, more than 1,000 participants from 289 school districts have enrolled in I-SEAL; 590 educators have completed the program.

“Schools across the state are grappling with a critical shortage of qualified special education teachers,” said Carey Dahncke, Executive Director of 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.”

The second initiative, ASSET, is an approved alternative licensure program that falls under the Transition to Teaching umbrella. The program was designed in partnership with the Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education (I-CASE) to help licensed educators add a Mild and/or Intense Interventions endorsement to their license. Under ASSET’s program, all required coursework is completed during the teacher’s workday at no cost. To date, 541 educators have enrolled in ASSET, 281 educators have completed the program and 98% of participants are currently special education teachers in Indiana.

“ICASE is extremely proud to offer this innovative licensing option to Indiana educators who support students with exceptional needs,” said Joseph Kwisz, President of ICASE. “ASSET has been a lifeline to school corporations across the state who are doing their diligence to fill high need areas with qualified professionals. The intense training and support given to educators through the ASSET program is also helping to retain quality educators in the field as they are well equipped to handle the complexities of this profession and navigate challenges.”  

I-SEAL is funded through Indiana’s federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief II funding and Part B of Indiana’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding. ASSET is also funded through IDEA Part B. 

Additional information on the educator supply and demand marketplace, I-SEAL and ASSET is available here and here.