Special Education Teachers and Congress Help Disabled Youth
A Good IDEA
Congress enacted the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975. The act was created to support states and localities in addressing the educational needs of youth with disabilities. The act was amended in 1997 and renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The federal support has made a strong impact in special education, that between 1997 and 1984, high school graduation rates increased by fourteen percent for students benefiting from IDEA support. The most recent numbers from 2003 show that approximately, 6.7 million children were served by IDEA, and in 2002, there were over four hundred thousand special education teachers.
Another Good IDEA
IDEA provides for and supports the training of special education teachers. Teachers can get training in early childhood and special education, and according to the U.S. Dept of Education's Office of Special Education Programs, they can become "early intervention staff, classroom teachers, therapists, counselors, psychologists, program administrators, and other professionals who will work with future generations of children with disabilities and their families."
A Great Idea: Online Teaching degree
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "a bachelor's degree, completion of an approved teacher preparation program, and a license are required to qualify" for this job. Some states even require a master's degree. If you are passionate about helping educate children with disabilities, then you definitely want to get an online or campus-based teaching degree. A distance education can give you the flexibility to learn while continuing your current job. With this industry expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations, a career as a special education teacher definitely is a great idea.
About the Author
James Tolles is the Managing Editor for HQ Publications. He helped write and edit the successful application for Sparks, NV that earned the city honors as a 2004 All-America City Finalist-a title held by only 30 cities in the nation. He is also a freelance writer. He attended a four year liberal arts college and holds two B.A. degrees, one in Creative Writing and the other in History.
