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Highly Qualified Content and Special Education Endorsement Program (HQ2)

Overview

HQ2, the University of Washington’s Graduate Endorsement-Only Program in Special Education, is designed for certificated teachers desiring to increase their capacity to teach students with disabilities; become special education teachers; or are currently working with special needs students in private settings.

This program will be a competency-based program.  Students will complete portfolio assessment to demonstrate their competencies in eight major areas that incorporate all of the OSPI developed special education competencies as well as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Exceptional Needs Certificate competencies using the National Board Portfolio as the model for demonstrating competencies.

 Courses                                                        

The student will develop an individual professional development plan based on individual competencies and experience in fulfilling program competencies. Each quarter the student will enroll in the course offered for that quarter with the option of taking 6 credits. All coursework will have required field based components as well as seminar opportunities (evenings and weekends) at the University of Washington, and on-line learning opportunities. Students will work on their individually pre-determined competencies each quarter.

The spiral curriculum addresses NBPTS, OSPI, and U of W competencies including: Preparing for Student Learning; Advancing Student Learning; Supporting Student Learning; and Professional Development and Contributions to the Field. Each quarter allows for individual progress. A student will be able to complete competencies within 21 hours of credit over 3 quarters. Enrolled students will sign up for a minimum of 6 credits per quarter they are enrolled in the program. Enrollment is continuous and may begin in any quarter.

Certification

HQ2 allows certificated teachers to add an endorsement in special education through OSPI’s Pathway #3 in which skills developed are very different in instructional methodology and content-related skills from the student’s current endorsement.

Contact

Special Education Endorsement Program

• The College of Education agrees to offer an Endorsement in Special Education program on a fee-based funding basis that will serve middle and high school teachers.
• Program courses will be offered in a classroom setting with a field-based practicum and supplemented with online discussion forums using catalyst tools.
• The College of Education will maintain the same high-quality standards for this fee-based program as for state-funded offerings.
• The program will be included in the College’s regular academic review of programs
• The program curriculum consists of 21 graduate credits, which students will take over a period of three consecutive quarters.
• The program will consist of 3 core courses that include field-work and a practicum focusing on an individual project.

Courses currently included in the Endorsement Program are:

• EDSPE 520 A  Seminar in Applied Special Education , 6 credits, winter quarter
• EDSPE 520 B  Seminar in Applied Special Education , 6 credits, spring quarter
• EDSPE 548  Special Topics in the Education of Students with Disabilities, 3 credits summer quarter
• EDPSE 500 Independent Study in Education, 6 credits, any quarter