MEd Special Education

Students in the MEd Special Education program pursuing licensure to teach special education (including current teachers with an Illinois Professional Education License who are not currently qualified to teach special education) may be eligible for the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program.  This program exempts students from paying tuition and mandatory fees for up to four calendar years.  By receiving the tuition waiver, you must teach in Illinois in the field of special education. If this teaching commitment is not fulfilled, the amount of benefits received converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount plus interest.

• Learn more and apply to SETTW

CHIME (Collaborative teaching for young and diverse children with high-intensity needs and multiple disabilities in blended environments) is a federally funded special education scholarship program that will prepare current teachers with an Illinois educators license to earn a master’s degree, an IL Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS1) endorsement, and the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) approval. CHIME will prepare educators to teach young children with disabilities, especially those between the ages of 3 and 5, in inclusive environments with a commitment educational justice, accessibility, and equity.

CHIME will provide students with a scholarship that consists of tuition, fees and a book stipend. The program will last two-years across five semesters with students taking two to three classes per semester. Each student must complete a service obligation that requires one year of teaching in an approved position for each semester of funding.

Eligibility

• Current teachers with a professional educator’s license (PEL) without LBS1 endorsement or ECSE approval
• Interest in learning about special education, evidence-based interventions, and inclusion for students aged 3-21.
• US Citizen or Permanent US Resident

Program Content

Between January 2025 and July 2026, CHIME scholars will complete 37 credits in the following areas:

• 18 credits to earn the LBS1 endorsement
• 14 credits to earn the ECSE approval
• 5 credits for CHIME cohort seminar

Program Benefits

• Full tuition, fees, and a book stipend
• Credentials to teach young children with disabilities
• Community-building activities
• UIC Early Childhood Special Education Cooperative participation
• Hybrid and online courses held in the evening, includes two summer semesters.

 Program Support

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs

University of Illinois, College of Education, Department of Special Education

For Further Information Contact the Program Coordinator

Stephanie Fernandez, MEd

CHIME Program Coordinator

Special Education

sferna33@uic.edu

Visit the CHIME website for more information.

The TEACH Grant provides federal student aid to teacher candidates who seek to become teachers in low-income schools.

As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve in which you agree to (among other requirements) teach: (1) in a high-need field; (2) at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families; and (3) for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant.

• Apply to the TEACH grant

Students in any graduate program at the College of Education are eligible for a UIC Graduate College tuition waiver.  Available on a semester-by-semester basis, a limited number are available, but all students are encouraged to apply.

• Graduate College Tuition Waiver Application

Assistive Technology Leaders in Special Education II (ATLiS2) is a special education scholarship program that will prepare currently licensed educators to earn an Illinois learning behavior specialist (LBS1) endorsement and an advanced learning behavior specialist (LBS2) endorsement in assistive technology. ATLiS2 scholars will participate in interdisciplinary coursework and community building activities to establish a community of assistive technology specialists.

• Learn More

Program Overview
The JTED Teacher Apprenticeship Program is a State-Funded grant that offers an alternative pathway to special education licensure. It is designed exclusively for paraprofessionals who want to become licensed special education teachers. This program prepares paraprofessionals to become Illinois-licensed special education teachers in K-22 schools.

Admitted students will participate in a comprehensive program, including online coursework within the UIC special education department, apprenticeship in district schools, and a mentorship program with field experiences and university scholar supervision. Graduates will acquire the skills to become special education teachers who can support the community needs of students with disabilities within the diverse school context.

Participants will earn a Professional Educator License (PEL) and a Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS1) endorsement. The program offers full tuition coverage and ongoing employment within the district. The scholarship coursework will last for three semesters, with classes beginning during the Summer of 2025 and the program concluding in the Spring of 2026.

The program includes:
Seven fully online synchronous coursework in special education. This will provide the needed flexibility to complete on-the-job training as a special educator with continuous mentoring and feedback Participation in courses with required fieldwork and student teaching in which students will engage in hands-on teaching experiences within local schools, allowing them to engage directly with the communities they will serve.

Participation in a continuous feedback mentor data cycle. This mentorship program will provide students with additional support to integrate their coursework skills and develop practical knowledge in their district schools.

Eligibility
– Bachelor’s degree in any field.
– 2 years of paraprofessional experience.
– Commitment to intensive online coursework, field internship, and student teaching in special education

Program Requirements
The program requires completing seven courses at the graduate level, including a student teaching internship and a student teaching apprenticeship course.

Program Benefits
– Fully paid tuition through UIC and ongoing employment within the district schools.
– An apprenticeship experience with on the job training and mentoring.
– Professional Educator License (PEL) and a Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS1) endorsement.
– Gain eligibility to apply for the LBSII and MEd options.

Application Process
The program requires the completion of one application. Applicants will upload the required documents to the linked application form. This application form can be found at HERE. The deadline for the application is March 15th.

Applicants will be asked to submit their documents;
– Official transcripts from your former institutions
– An updated resume
– A personal statement outlining your interest in the program and commitment to education. Please see additional details on the application.
– Two letters of recommendation from a building administrator and a teacher with whom you have worked as a paraprofessional.

Note: Applicants should give themselves enough time to gather all application materials (especially letters of recommendation) and submit them by March 15th, 2025.

Interview Process: Selected candidates will be invited to participate in an interview with program faculty and school partners.

Placement & Acceptance: Once accepted, you will be matched with a mentor teacher in your current school to gain hands-on experience in the school site.

Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS 290): Upon acceptance, you must register and take the ILTS 290 content test prior to the first day of class on May 19, 2025.

Program Support
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) researched teacher apprenticeships with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

Program Directors

Christerralyn Brown, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor Special Education
cbrown82@uic.edu

Daniel Maggin, PhD
Professor, Special Education
dmaggin@uic.edu

Özge Erşan
Graduate Assistant
PhD student Special Education
oersan2@uic.edu

• Apply