The Transition to Teaching program is a federally funded project that recruits and prepares individuals with Bachelor degrees in fields outside education to become Intervention Specialists in Ohio. By utilizing an alternative pathway to special education teacher licensure, cohort participants will work toward full licensure through the Transition to Teaching program.
The training program is a module-based, 30 credit-hour semester program instructed by highly qualified instructors through the School Study Council of Ohio and adjunct professors through the University of Dayton. Cohort participants will be prepared in special education content areas to obtain an Alternative Educator License. The Alternative Educator License is valid for two years from the date of issue.
Alternative Educator License training, including tuition and textbooks, will be provided to participants at a reduced cost. This license is for teaching students with Mild/Moderate educational needs, grades K-12. Training courses will be offered online and at convenient times and locations near participating school districts to ensure increased accessibility to the program. Participants will be assigned to districts as needed and will be fully employed upon completion of required course work and issuance of Ohio's Alternative Educator License. The program is designed to meet Ohio's requirements for obtaining the Alternative Educator License for teaching Mild/Moderate educational needs to students in grades K-12. Each participant receiving tuition will be required to sign a three-year service agreement with the school district in which he/she is placed. The agreement is based upon success under the Alternative Educator License, completion of 12 additional semester hours of special education coursework, passing of the Praxis II Teacher Licensure and Certification Exam, and application for the Provisional Educator License. Teachers-in-training will be provided with additional support that will prepare them for obtaining a Provisional Educator License in special education after two years, and subsequently, Ohio's Professional Educator License.
Special Education teachers are needed to educate children with disabilities in Ohio school districts. Currently, there is a shortage of these highly skilled educators, and schools need new talent to meet their personnel needs.
- A strong interest in teaching children with special needs in grades K-12
- Bachelor's degree in any field other than education
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or acceptable GRE or MAT scores
- Acceptance to the University of Dayton graduate school
- Passing scores on all three sections of the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST)
- Acceptable recent background check from both the BCI and FBI
- Negative Tuberculosis test
- Acceptance by the selected school district (Interview required)
- Agreement to serve for three years in the selected school district
- Attendance at the mandatory orientation meeting
- Agreement to pursue a Provisional Educator License
