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What does a special education teacher do?

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What is a Special Education Teacher?

A special education teacher works with students who have a wide range of disabilities and special needs. Their primary role is to provide specialized instruction and support to help students with disabilities overcome learning barriers and achieve academic, social, and emotional success. Special education teachers assess students' individual needs, develop tailored education plans, and implement effective teaching strategies and accommodations to meet each student's unique learning goals.

In addition to academic instruction, special education teachers also foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment for their students. They collaborate closely with other educators, administrators, parents, and support staff to create Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and ensure that students with disabilities receive the necessary accommodations, services, and resources to thrive in school.

What does a Special Education Teacher do?

Duties and Responsibilities Special education teachers have a range of duties and responsibilities that are vital in ensuring that students with disabilities receive the support they need to succeed. Some of these responsibilities include:

• Assessment and Individualized Education Planning: Special education teachers assess students' individual needs, strengths, and challenges to determine eligibility for special education services. They collaborate with other professionals, such as psychologists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists, to conduct evaluations and develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) tailored to each student's unique learning goals and needs.
• Instruction and Differentiated Teaching: Special education teachers design and implement specialized instruction and teaching strategies to accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities. They adapt curriculum materials, modify instructional approaches, and provide individualized support to help students with disabilities access the general education curriculum and make academic progress. Special education teachers may also provide small-group instruction, one-on-one tutoring, or co-teaching support in inclusive classroom settings.
• Behavior Management and Support: Special education teachers help students develop social skills, self-regulation, and positive behavior management strategies to succeed in school and community settings. They establish clear expectations, reinforce positive behaviors, and provide targeted interventions and supports to address challenging behaviors and promote a positive learning environment. Special education teachers collaborate with behavior specialists, counselors, and support staff to implement behavior intervention plans and support students' social-emotional development.
• Collaboration and Communication: Special education teachers collaborate closely with general education teachers, administrators, parents, and other professionals to support students' academic and developmental needs. They attend team meetings, participate in IEP meetings, and communicate regularly with parents to discuss students' progress, set goals, and coordinate services. Special education teachers advocate for students with disabilities, ensuring that they receive appropriate accommodations, services, and resources to succeed in school and beyond.
• Professional Development and Continued Learning: Special education teachers engage in ongoing professional development and training to stay updated on best practices, research-based interventions, and legal requirements related to special education. They participate in workshops, conferences, and seminars, pursue advanced degrees or certifications, and collaborate with colleagues to share expertise and resources. Special education teachers continuously strive to improve their teaching practices and support the diverse needs of students with disabilities.

Types of Special Education Teachers There are various types of special education teachers, each specializing in a specific area of need or disability. Some of the most common types of special education teachers include:

• Autism Teacher: These teachers work with students who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They may use specialized techniques such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) to help students develop social skills, communication skills, and independence.
• Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Teacher: These teachers work with students who have emotional or behavioral disorders that may impact their ability to learn and interact with others. They may help students develop coping skills, build positive relationships, and manage their behavior in the classroom.
• Learning Disabilities Teacher: These teachers specialize in working with students who have difficulties with reading, writing, or math. They may use specialized techniques to help students overcome these challenges and develop their skills in these areas.
• Occupational Therapist : Occupational therapists work with students who have physical disabilities or challenges with fine motor skills. They may help students develop skills such as handwriting, dressing, or eating independently.
• Physical Therapist : Physical therapists work with students who have physical disabilities or challenges with gross motor skills. They may help students develop skills such as walking, climbing stairs, or participating in physical education activities.
• Speech and Language Pathologist : These professionals work with students who have communication disorders such as stuttering, language delays, or articulation disorders. They may work with students one-on-one or in small groups to help them develop their communication skills.

Are you suited to be a special education teacher?

Special education teachers have distinct personalities . They tend to be social individuals, which means they’re kind, generous, cooperative, patient, caring, helpful, empathetic, tactful, and friendly. They excel at socializing, helping others, and teaching. Some of them are also investigative, meaning they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if special education teacher is one of your top career matches.

What is the workplace of a Special Education Teacher like?

Special education teachers may work in a variety of environments, including public and private schools, specialized special education schools, inclusive classrooms, resource rooms, or self-contained classrooms dedicated to students with disabilities. These settings may range from elementary, middle, or high schools to specialized programs or alternative education centers.

Inclusive classrooms, where students with disabilities are integrated into general education classrooms alongside their peers without disabilities, are becoming increasingly common. In these settings, special education teachers collaborate closely with general education teachers to provide differentiated instruction, accommodations, and support to meet the diverse learning needs of all students. They may co-teach with general education teachers, provide push-in or pull-out support, or work in small groups to provide targeted interventions and assistance to students with disabilities.

Additionally, special education teachers may also spend time outside of the classroom attending meetings, collaborating with other professionals, and conducting assessments and evaluations. They work closely with parents, administrators, counselors, therapists, and support staff to develop and implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), monitor student progress, and ensure that students with disabilities receive the necessary services and supports to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

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Special Education Teachers are also known as: Special Education Resource Teacher Inclusion Teacher

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Special Education Teacher Career

What is a special education teacher.

A special education teacher (or SPED teacher) instructs students who have special needs. Created for students of all ages with emotional, physical, and learning disabilities, special education programs were signed into law in 1975 after Congress passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In order to promote and manage the growth of their students (from infants to adults), special education teachers modify the general education curriculum to make sure each student’s individual needs are met. They help students develop the problem-solving, motor, and social skills they’ll need to complete their education and live independently. Beyond academic advancement, special ed teachers may also work with students on personal and life skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES

What Does a Special Education Teacher Do?

Similar to other teachers, special ed teachers create lesson plans, assign activities, and grade assignments and tests. They also keep track of student progress and meet with parents to discuss their child’s abilities and challenges. The individualized instruction and curriculum distinguish special education from standard education. Special education teachers have the following responsibilities: 

• Enriching student learning  and providing a stable, individualized education program catered to unique student needs and limitations.
• Helping students navigate unique mental and physical challenges  from a young age so that they can live a fulfilling, self-sufficient life. 
• Teaching students with physical or mental disabilities  how to learn, progress, and interact with others in wholesome and constructive ways. 

Special education teachers are responsible for instructing a broad range of students (infants to adults) with a broad range of disabilities and work at the elementary, middle, or secondary school level at public or private schools. Some special ed instructors have their own classrooms to teach groups of students with special needs, while others work with individuals or small groups of students with disabilities in a general classroom alongside other students.

Special ed instructors often work with general education teachers in identifying and assessing students who may have disabilities or special needs. The job of a special ed teacher in a general education classroom is to adjust the general lessons to fit the needs of each child. These adaptations are included in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). IEPs are crucial because what may be an effective teaching approach for one student may not work for another. IEPs involve working with parents and other instructors to know what a special education student needs to learn, how to teach them, and the best process forward to meet their educational needs. Accommodations can range from using flashcards to teach math skills to guiding a student in life skills such as how to answer questions or follow instructions.

EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES

How do i become a special education teacher.

The traditional path to a career in teaching special education includes the following steps: 

• Earn a state-approved bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in special education.
• Complete a student teaching internship in a special education classroom. Teachers with prior experience in teaching children with disabilities will stand out from others.
• Take your state’s required tests for special education teachers.
• Apply for your teaching license.
• Start applying for special ed teaching positions.
• Consider earning an additional license in special education if you’re already a teacher. 

Most special education teachers earn a degree in education or special education. Many universities and colleges offer  special education teaching degrees  at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.  WGU  offers a  dual elementary education and special education bachelor's degree program , a  special education—mild to moderate bachelor's degree program , and a  master’s degree program —terrific news if you already hold a bachelor’s degree and are looking to make a career shift or gain additional teaching credentials.

Credential requirements for special ed teachers vary between public and private schools. Most jobs among both types of institutions require a focused special education degree whether at the bachelor’s or  master’s level.  Private schools require a bachelor’s degree but don’t always require certification. To qualify for  licensure to teach  in public schools, the bachelor’s or master’s degree usually needs to include a teacher training program approved by the state in which it is located.

Best Degrees for Special Education Teachers

Special Ed and Elementary Ed (Dual Licensure) – B.A.

An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...

An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring K–12 special education teachers. Leads to dual licensure—elementary education teaching license and special education teaching license.

• Time: 60% of students finish this degree within 38 months.
• Tuition:  $3,825 per 6-month term.
• Courses: 44 total courses in this program (45 for Washington residents).

(Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.) If your state offers a single K–12 special education teaching license and you are interested in focusing on teaching students with mild to moderate exceptionalities, consider the  B.A. Special Education (Mild to Moderate)  online teaching degree. 

Skills for your résumé included in this program:

• Elementary Reading Methods
• Elementary Mathematics Methods
• Elementary Social Studies Methods
• Elementary Science Methods
• Language Arts Instruction and Intervention

This special education teaching online degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. 

Teaching, Special Education (K–12) – M.A.

An online master's degree for current or aspiring teachers looking to...

An online master's degree for current or aspiring teachers looking to further their careers with a focus on K–12 special education.

• Time:  64% of students finish similar programs in 22 months.
• Tuition:  $4,125 per 6-month term.
• Courses: 26 total courses in this program.

This program is ideal for students who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field and are looking to earn their initial teaching license.

• Professional, Ethical and Legal Guidelines in Special Education
• Management Strategies for Academic and Social Behavior
• Assessment and Evaluation
• Methods of Instruction and Intervention
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Find a rewarding career teaching students with diverse challenges and special learning abilities with this teaching master's degree.

Special Education (Mild to Moderate) – B.A.

An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring special education teachers. Leads to your teaching license in states that offer a single teaching license in K–12 special education.

• Time: 61% of students finish this program within 34 months.
• Courses : 39 total courses in this program.

 If your state requires—or if you're interested in—dual licensure in both elementary education and K–12 special education, consider the  B.A. Special Education (K–12) program .

• Lesson Planning
• Behavioral Support Strategies
• Educational Psychology & Development
• Classroom Management

This online degree program includes a preclinical experience with face-to-face observation hours and a Student Teaching component hosted by an experienced teacher and directed by a clinical supervisor.

How Much Does a Special Education Teacher Make?

Like other teaching jobs, the salary for special ed teachers depends mostly on education and experience. The median annual salary for an experienced special education teacher with at least a bachelor’s degree is $62,950 as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What Is the Projected Job Growth?    3%

The BLS projects 3 % growth for special education teachers  over the next 10 years, a rate that is faster than the average growth rate for other occupations. 

What Skills Does a Special Education Teacher Need?

Special education teachers typically work in elementary or high schools. the skill set needed for each is slightly different. let’s take a look at some of the differences in responsibilities and expectations for each role. note that middle and junior high teacher skills and responsibilities tend to span both categories., elementary school special education teacher skills.

• Work with students who have physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, developmental delays, or documented behavioral issues that affect learning in the mainstream classroom.
• Lead the formation or revision of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) each year as a collaborative working document for parents, educators, administrators, and support staff. 
• Advocate for people with disabilities through education legislation and other measures. 
• Understand theories of child and adolescent development. 
• Serve as subject matter expert for classroom teachers and support staff for teaching and learning strategies as well as for relevant medical conditions and information.
• Advocate on behalf of students needs to teachers and administration.
• Provide students without disabilities with strategies for perspective-taking and inclusion in classroom and extracurricular activities.

High school special education teacher skills

• Help students learn self-advocacy as they approach the end of high school.
• Function as a resource for school-to-work transitioning.
• Advocate for and recommend students for extensive cooperative education placements both in and outside of the school.
• Suggest beneficial reductions in support for the student to foster self-reliance, reduce vulnerability, and increase independence.
• Model and role-play self-advocacy skills for students in the classroom and in life-skills situations.
• Understand the medical, physical, behavioral, emotional, and social implications of a particular diagnosis and how this may impact learning and life situations.
• Create a transition plan from year to year, and from high school to post-secondary education or job training. 

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