Director of Special Education Endorsement

NLU offers coursework suitable for candidates interested in earning the State of Illinois Director of Special Education endorsement.

In addition to the National Louis University Graduate Admission Requirements, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

Option One:

  • An Illinois Professional Education License (PEL) already endorsed in an ISBE-approved administrative field
  • Documentation of a minimum of two years of full-time experience providing special education services as a special education teacher, or speech-language pathologist, or school counselor, or school nurse, or school social worker, or school psychologist on a valid Illinois License
  • A master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
  • Faculty Review

Option Two:

  • An Illinois Professional Education License (PEL) already endorsed in an ISBE-approved administrative field
  • A master's degree or higher from a school with institutional accreditation
  • Faculty Review

Program Requirements

Option One

  • Requires 12 SH for completion 
  • A grade of "C" or better in all coursework is required 
  • Requires passing of the Director of Special Education content test (#180)

In accordance with ISBE requirements, candidates must take one course in each of the following areas:

  • The supervision of programs for children with disabilities
  • Special education law
  • Special education finance
  • Cross-categorical special education methods
The below coursework fulfills ISBE's criteria.
SPE 561Administration and Supervision of Programs for Exceptional Children, Adolescents and Young Adults

3

SPE 549Legal Aspects of Administration and Supervision of Programs for Exceptional Children, Adolescents

3

SPE 544School Finance for Special Education Administrators

3

SPE 527Differentiated and Individualized Curriculum and Instruction

3

Option Two

  • Requires 30 SH for completion
  • A grade of "C" or better in all coursework is required 
  • Requires passing of the Director of Special Education content test (#180)

In accordance with ISBE requirements, candidates must take one course in each of the following areas:

  • The supervision of programs for children with disabilities
  • Special education law
  • Special education finance
  • Cross-categorical special education methods
SPE 561Administration and Supervision of Programs for Exceptional Children, Adolescents and Young Adults

3

SPE 549Legal Aspects of Administration and Supervision of Programs for Exceptional Children, Adolescents

3

SPE 544School Finance for Special Education Administrators

3

SPE 527Differentiated and Individualized Curriculum and Instruction

3

Additional Coursework

ISBE requires that candidates for the Director of Special Education endorsement take the remainder of their 30 semester hours of coursework in any of the following areas:

  • Curricular adaptations/modifications and/or assistive technology
  • Facilitation of the least restrictive environment for all students
  • Characteristics of students with disabilities
  • Collaboration of parents and school personnel
  • Educational and psychological diagnosis and remedial techniques

The below courses are aligned with one or more of these areas.

SPE 500Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities

3

SPE 501Educational and Diagnostic Assessment in Special Education

3

SPE 506Frameworks, Perspectives, and Collaboration in Special Education

3

SPE 507Methods of Social/Emotional Support

3

SPE 508Literacy Across the Curriculum for Students with Disabilities

3

SPE 509Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners

3

SPE 523Teaching Students with Math Disabilities

3

SPE 573Differentiated and Inclusive Curriculum & Instruction I

3