Master of Education [M.Ed] [Special Education] From Arcadia University

Special needs and special education students are becoming integrated into traditional classrooms at a rapid rate. Now more than ever, elementary teachers need credentials and experience in responding to the needs of these students, managing classrooms that are inclusive, and understanding the challenges that are a part of the daily lives of special education students.

In the past, inclusive education with a focus on special needs populations was not a part of elementary education programs. Recent changes by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) have made inclusive education an important component of contemporary education school curricula. Special education studies leading to a second certification in Special Education increases the marketability of practicing teachers who already have received a primary certification in Pennsylvania. Indeed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a job growth rate of approximately 17% for special education teachers between now and 2020. In addition, PDE recently changed the categorization of Special Education into separate PreK-8 and 7-12 ranges.