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College of Education & Human Services

Special Education

Program Overview

The Special Education Para to Professional Educator License (PEL) program is designed for individuals working in special education settings to earn their Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1) license. Whether you are working as a special education classroom aide or a one-to-one paraprofessional for a student on an IEP, you can remain employed while studying to earn your teaching credential! All courses are offered online either synchronously or asynchronously. You will learn all of the essential knowledge and skills required of a special educator, including evidence-based instructional strategies, assessment techniques, classroom and behavior management, and IEP writing. You will also have the opportunity to build a collaborative community with your fellow classmates, which will assist you throughout your teaching career.

Eligibility

  • Verifiable employment in a K-22 special education setting in a position that directly supports children
  • Ability and willingness to attend asynchronous and synchronous courses
  • Transfer GPA of a 2.0 or above or high school diploma/ high school equivalency for those that are new to higher education

Field Experience

Field Experience is a variety of early and ongoing field-based opportunities prior to Student Teaching in which candidates may observe, assist, tutor, instruct and/or conduct research. As part of the Para to PEL program, students will not need to enroll in and pay for field experience courses; rather, they will complete a log of experiences in lieu of these courses.

Block Experience

Block Field Experience is the final such experience prior to Student Teaching. As such, it includes requirements to complete a minimum of hours and teach lessons in an appropriate grade level/discipline area classroom per the license being pursued in addition to observing, assisting, tutoring, and/or conducting research.

Student Teaching Experience

Student Teaching is a form of internship required for approval of educator preparation programs calling for close and competent supervision. It entails preparation for full responsibility in an instructional setting. In the course of the experience, the candidate shall demonstrate proficiency of skills and techniques including, but not limited to, planning, organization, evaluation, parent relations, and competence in subject matter areas. The experience is carried out under supervision by University and School District personnel.

Field Experience Block Field Experience Student Teaching

Paraprofessional Teacher Education Students must work with the professor(s) to meet the requirements of the courses.

Paraprofessional Teacher Education听 Students must be in a PK-Age 22听 Special Education setting for a听 minimum of 100 hours.听听

They must teach a minimum of 16听 lessons, including a minimum of 5 whole group/inclusion and 5 small听 group/centers.听

They must work with the professor听 to meet all requirements of the听 course.

All Student Teachers must serve in the lead teacher role for a听 minimum of 34 days over the course of the 16-week Student Teaching period of time.听

Student Teachers must be in a听 PK-12 th grade classroom for Student Teaching and have the opportunity to work with a full caseload of students.听听

They must also complete all听 Student Teaching requirements.

Successful Completion of Content Exam

By State law all teacher education candidates must pass the applicable content/subject matter exam(s) prior to being licensed. Teacher education candidates will be cleared to student teach after taking (attempting) the exam(s) with the deadline of March 1 (fall student teaching) or October 1 (spring student teaching).

WIU Special Education Para to PEL Initial Steps

  1. Please complete the Google Form linked below to give us preliminary information that will help us get things moving. Please complete this immediately-
  2. Please complete your undergraduate transfer application linked below. 听 If you live closest to the Quad Cities, you will choose Quad Cities Campus and if you live closest to Macomb, you will choose Macomb campus. 听 Regardless of the campus that you choose, you will not be required to come to a campus to participate in classes, but choose the appropriate campus and DO NOT CHOOSE ONLINE. 听 听
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  3. Please immediately send all official transcripts that you have from any institution (including any from WIU) to the following email: admissions@wiu.edu or they can be mailed to: Undergraduate Admissions, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455.

Transcript Notes: This should be done as soon as possible. The schools you have attended will have that information on their website. If you can鈥檛 find the right spot, try putting 鈥測our former school name + transcripts鈥� into the Google search bar.

  1. Complete your FAFSA. You will want to have your social security number available. It will ask you if you want to login to your IRS account to have your tax information shared with FAFSA. It is much easier if you say yes to that option. The WIU school code for WIU is 001780.

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  2. Have your supervisor or administrator complete this employment verification form:

Financial Assistance Opportunities

There are a variety of funding options to consider for your pathways. Please see below for some of the options that all students should consider applying for if it is a match to their needs. You may also meet with the WIU financial aid advisors to assist you in finding additional scholarships.


  1. TANF Forms - WIU
  5. Great River Teacher Corps - WIU

For specific questions regarding admissions, please use the following link to determine who to contact in the Admissions Office.

/student_success/undergraduate_admissions/transfer/contactUs.php 听

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SPED Para to PEL Coordinator

PARA-ECH coordinator image

Dr. Jennifer McKenzie, Ph.D.

Office: Horrabin Hall 115F, Macomb Campus

Email:听 JM-Mckenzie@wiu.edu

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