PELSB sends moderate‑to‑severe cross‑categorical special‑education licensure to rulemaking

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board on Feb. 20 voted to ask staff to begin rulemaking for a new moderate‑to‑severe cross‑categorical special‑education license, a change intended to consolidate several high‑incident special‑education categories (autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, emotional/behavior disorders and learning disabilities) into a single licensure pathway.

Dr. Bailey and work‑group members described a split advisory group: about half favored retaining current licensure, and half supported a consolidated license. Discussants told the board the proposed license aims to reflect classroom realities and streamline preparation while preserving options for physical and health disabilities as stand‑alone areas. Board members pressed for clarity on whether the license would cover severe‑to‑profound students and what settings (setting 3/4) licensees would be prepared to teach.

Committee members recommended including renewal requirements with specialized training to bolster in‑service preparedness. Mr. Holscher, who participated in the work groups, told the board the proposal "creates a better foundation for our teachers to be able to work within the different settings that we have." Board members asked staff to pay close attention to implementation, funding impacts and federal (IDEA) interactions; staff reported consultation with MDE special‑education representatives and saw no immediate federal compliance barriers.

The board approved a motion to move the proposal into rulemaking and asked staff to include clarifying language on scope (moderate vs. severe/profound), renewal/training expectations and any additional disability categories that require separate consideration.

What happens next: Staff will draft rule language and return it to the board for review and public comment as part of the formal rulemaking process.