Michigan Department of Education
 

Office of Special Education & Early Intervention Services

Temporary Approval For Out-Of-State Trained
Director Of Special Education

POLICY & CRITERIA

Policy:

1. A request for approval as an out-of-state director of special education is initiated by the candidate.

2. The candidate initiates the request for temporary approval as an out-of-state trained director of special education, upon completion of all training requirements:

- Master's degree or equivalent

-Michigan special education teaching endorsement, full approval in at least one area of special education, school psychologist certification or credential for other professional personnel , under 340.1792(provide a copy of professional credential or valid Michigan teaching certificate).

- Three years of successful professional practice or administrative experience in special education, or combination thereof(provide letter from previous employer(s)). Experience may be gained out-of-state.

- Successful 200 clock-hour practicum in special education administration.

- Completion of 30 semester or 45 term hours of graduate credit in a program designed to assure competencies in Revised Administrative Rules for Special Education R.340.1771.

4. Temporary approval as a director of special education is transferable from one employer to the next.

5. Temporary approval as a director of special education expires at the end of the school year for which it is issued.

6. A search for a candidate with full approval as a director of special education is not required prior to hiring a candidate under temporary approval.
 
 

Criteria:

1. The candidate must hold an earned master's degree or equivalent.

2. The candidate must hold Michigan special education teaching endorsement, full approval in at least one area of special education, school psychologist certification or other credential for professional personnel, under 340.1792(provide a copy of professional credential or valid Michigan teaching certificate).

3. The candidate must have completed 3 years of successful professional practice or administrative experience in education, or a combination thereof.

4. Recommendation from a university or college approved to prepare special education directors.

There are two options for seeking approval when trained out-of-state

PROCEDURES:

Option 1

The candidate must:

1. Initiate the request by having their out-of-state training institution complete the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services (MDE-OSE/EIS) competency form. The completed form should be forwarded from the out-of-state training institution to the MDE-OSE/EIS.

2. Provide documentation of completion of 30 semester or 45 term hours of graduate creditin a program designed to assure competencies in the areas specified in the Revised Administrative Rules for Special Education R340.1771. Official Transcripts should be forwarded from the out-of-state training institution to the MDE-OSE/EIS.

3. Provide documentation of a 200 clock hour practicum in special education administration

4. Provide documentation of Michigan teaching endorsement, full approval in at least one area of special education, school psychologist certification or credential for other professional personnel, under 340.1792 (provide a copy of professional credential or valid Michigan teaching certificate).

5. Three years of successful professional practice or administrative experience in education, or combination thereof(provide letter from previous employer(s)). Experience may be gained out-of-state.

6. Forward items 4 and 5 to the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services, Approvals Unit; PO. Box 30008, Lansing , MI 48933.
 
 


Option 2

The candidate must:

1. Initiate the request by seeking the recommendation for approval through a Michigan College/University with an approved special education administrative program of training.

2. Provide documentation of a 200 clock hour practicum in special education administration.

3. Provide documentation of Michigan teaching endorsement, full approval in at least one area of special education, school psychologist certification or credential for other professional personnel, under 340.1792 (provide a copy of professional credential or valid Michigan teaching certificate).

4. Three years of successful professional practice or administrative experience in education, or combination thereof (provide letter form previous employer(s)). Experience may be gained out-of-state.

5.  Forward materials to the Michigan Department of Education , Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services, Approvals Unit, P.O. Box 30008, Lansing, MI 48933.


The University/College will:

1. Complete form REC:ADMIN to verify the candidate has completed all educational requirements through their out-of-state training institution.

2. Forward a copy of form REC:ADMIN to the candidate and a copy to the MDE-OSE/EIS



 

MDE-OSE/EIS will:

1. Review request.

2. Make an approval decision.

3. Send a letter of approval or denial to the candidate.

 *For those candidates seeking special education director approval that have not met the required competencies, or have not completed a training program approved by a Michigan university/college, please see the procedures for special education positions requiring approval under the Personnel Approvals Home Page. Please follow those procedures for your category.


MEMORANDUM
 
TO:                 Out-of-State Institutions of Higher Education Special Education Administrative Trainer(s)

FROM:           Theodore R. Beck, Supervisor, Quality Assurance Program
                       Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services

SUBJECT:     Michigan Director of Special Education Approval for Out-of-State
                       Trained Candidates
 
Candidates's Name: ____________________________________SS#: ____________________________

Address:______________________________________________________________________________
 
Candidates seeking director of special education approval must have completed:

a. 30 semester or 45 term hours of graduate credit in a program designed to assure competencies in the
    attached areas; and

b. A 200 clock hour practicum in special education administration
 

Director of special education training programs are based upon competencies. The State of
Michigan requires that al out-of-state trained directors or supervisors of special education have minimal
competencies verified by a university/college (special education administrative trainer). While a person is
not expected to be an expert in all of these areas, the prospective candidate should have had some
experience with all the competencies and your evaluation can help determine what further skills might need
to be developed. Even though this will require some time on your part, we feel this is necessary to make
sure that persons entering Michigan have equivalent training. Please complete this form and return it to the
following address:
 

                                   Roxanne Balfour, Department Analyst
                                    Michigan Department of Education
                            Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services
                                      Quality Assurance Program
                                           PO Box 30008
                                       Lansing, Michigan 48909
                                       Telephone: (517) 373-0926

 
Dear Special Education Administrative Trainer:

Please check the appropriate line as to: Satisfactory (S), Unsatisfactory (U), or Not Completed or needs
further work (NC). Also, please feel free to comment in the space provided after each criterion.

Director of Special Education

A Director of Special Education shall possess knowledge and competency in the following areas:
 
(i) Program Development and Evaluation
 
S    U  NC
__   __  __  Method of Evaluation:_______________________________________  Course No.________
 
(ii) Personnel Staffing, Supervision and Evaluation

S    U  NC
__   __  __  Method of Evaluation:________________________________________  Course No._____
 
 
(iii) Interpersonal Relationships, Communications, Persuasion and Morale

S    U  NC
__   __  __ Method of Evaluation:________________________________________   Course No.______
 
(iv) Evaluation of Inservice Organization and Management

S    U  NC
__   __  __ Method of Evaluation:________________________________________   Course No._____
 
(v) Budgeting, Financing and Reporting
S    U  NC
__   __  __ Method of Evaluation:________________________________________   Course No._____
 
(vi) Parent Relationships

S    U  NC
__   __  __ Method of Evaluation:________________________________________   Course No._____
 
(vii) School Plant Planning

S   U   NC
__   __  __   Method of Evaluation:_______________________________________  Course No._____

(viii) Consultation

S    U  NC
__   __  __ Method of Evaluation:________________________________________   Course No._____
 
(ix) Research and Grant Writing

S    U  NC
__   __  __ Method of Evaluation:________________________________________   Course No._____
 
 
(x) Office Management Including Office Automation

S    U  NC
__   __  __ Method of Evaluation:________________________________________   Course No._____
 
(xi) School Related legal Activities and Due Process Hearing

S    U  NC
__   __  __ Method of Evaluation:________________________________________   Course No._____
 
(xii) Computer-Assisted Management

S    U  NC
__   __  __ Method of Evaluation:________________________________________   Course No._____

Directors:

Yes   No
__    __   The candidate has completed 30 semester or 45 term hours of graduate credit in a program to
                     meet the above competencies.

__    __   A 200 clock hour practicum in special education administration was completed by this
                     candidate.
 

 
 
Trainer's Name (Print or Type)_____________________________Institution_______________________
 
Trainer's Signature ______________________________________Title ___________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________________
 
Department ____________________________________________ Telephone Number ______________

Date:____________________