ASPIRE: PK-12 Special Education Add-on Certification

Special Education add-on certification in as little as 12 months with financial support.

ASPIRE: Accelerated Special Education Program for In-Service Resident Educators helps Pennsylvania educators with active Instructional I certification in a non-Special Education area earn PK-12 Special Education add-on certification. ASPIRE removes financial barriers so educators can earn income, gain experience, and expand their credentials into a critically high-need area.

Program highlights:

27 graduate credits primarily online and asynchronous.
Partial to full tuition support, depending on program pathway.
Living stipend of up to $8,000.
Paid options to gain experience in Special Education classrooms.
Completion in 12–15 months, depending on program pathway.

Build your credentials. Gain experience. Earn while you learn.

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Program Format

Candidates may enter the program between May through August and complete the program the following August, providing a direct pathway into employment for the new PK-12 school year.

The program includes nine graduate courses totaling 27 credits. Courses are primarily asynchronous, with occasional live online meetings scheduled in the evening.

Course Schedule

First Summer	SPEE 513 Assessment & Instructional Design for Students with Disabilities in a Standards-Aligned System	Virtual + asynchronous
First Summer	SPEE 528 Positive Behavior Supports	Virtual + asynchronous
Fall	SPEE 516 Literacy in Core and Intervention Areas	Virtual + synchronous
Fall	SPEE 520 Special Education Processes & IEP Development	Virtual + synchronous
Winter	SPEE 522 Teaching Students with High Incidence Disabilities	Virtual + asynchronous
Spring	SPEE 530 Teaching Students with Low Incidence Disabilities	Virtual + synchronous
Spring	SPEE 527 Transition, Self-Determination, & Self-Advocacy for Adolescents & Adults with Disabilities	Virtual + synchronous
Second Summer	SPEE 434 Applied Behavior Analysis	Virtual + asynchronous
Second Summer	SPEE 592 Clinical Practicum	In-person

Choose Your ASPIRE Pathway

1. Internship Pathway

Designed for certified educators who are not currently employed as the teacher of record in a Special Education classroom. Participants spend three days per week working alongside a mentor teacher while completing program coursework with opportunity for paid substituting.

Eligibility: Active PA Instructional I certification in a non-Special Education area.
Financial Support: Full tuition and fee coverage, $8,000 living stipend, substitute up to two days per week.

Internships and substitute teaching must take place in a school district participating in the ASPIRE partnership with Kutztown University:

2. Employment Pathway

Designed for certified educators who are already working as the teacher of record in a Special Education classroom while completing the ASPIRE program. Participants work full time in their teaching assignment while completing program coursework.

Eligibility: Active PA Instructional I certification in a non-Special Education area and employment in Special Ed through an Emergency Permit or Experience-Based Certification.
Financial Support: Salary paid by the employing school district and a $4,000 living stipend.

The ASPIRE program offers meaningful, real-world classroom experience while helping address a critical shortage in the profession. We are grateful for this forward-thinking initiative.

Mr. Andrew Potteiger, Brandywine Heights Area School District Superintendent

Ready to ASPIRE?

Applications for the 2027 cohort open January 1, 2027.

Submit the graduate application.
Provide your resume, official transcripts, and active Pennsylvania teaching certificate.
- Applicants awaiting certification may submit certification test scores.
Qualified applicants will interview with Kutztown University and partner district representatives.
Accepted candidates begin coursework and their clinical experience during the summer.

Learn More

Interested in ASPIRE?
Contact ASPIRE Program Coordinator Dr. Kathleen Stanfa at stanfa@kutztown.edu

School districts interested in becoming an ASPIRE partner:
Contact the Office of Clinical Education and Partnerships at driehaus@kutztown.edu

Questions about the graduate application:
Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at graduate@kutztown.edu

Frequently Asked Questions:

I'm currently student teaching. Can I still apply to ASPIRE?

Yes! Teacher candidates of any non-Special Education grade band or subject area who want to add PK–12 Special Education certification can apply for this program during their student teaching semester. This program is designed to facilitate an add-on certification route for pre-service teacher candidates.
Why get certified in Special Education?

PK–12 Special Education is one of the most in-demand teacher certification areas in Pennsylvania. Schools across the state need educators in high-need areas such as Learning Support, Emotional Support, Life Skills Support, Autistic Support, and Multiple Disabilities Support.
Where can I complete my special education internship?

Internships are coordinated with a district who has partnered with KU for this initiative. Our current partner districts include: Antietam, Brandywine Heights, Kutztown Area, Schuylkill Valley, and Tulpehocken Area. These districts cover the Berks County, Lehigh Valley, Montgomery County, and Schuylkill County.
Do I have to complete unpaid student teaching?

No, the embedded teacher internship fulfills the clinical experience component required to add-on PK–12 Special Education certification.
Is the coursework stackable with a master's degree?

Yes. The coursework is stackable with KU's Master's of Education in Multicultural Education: Special Education.
Does the program count towards Instructional II certification and Act 48 requirements?

Yes. In addition to earning PK–12 Special Education add-on certification, participants complete graduate coursework that supports continuing education requirements for Instructional II certification and Act 48.

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