Definitions of Severely Handicapped and Requirements for Teacher Certification: A Survey of State Departments of Education

Abstract

A survey of state-adopted definitions of the term “severely handicapped” and of certification requirements for teachers of severely handicapped students revealed that 70% of the states had some type of definition and that state education agencies (SEAs) required general special education, categorical, or specialized certification for teachers of severely handicapped children. Since the implementation of P.L. 94–142, the number of states with definitions has increased substantially, and trends toward the use of generic definitions and specialized teaching certificates appear to be present. Although SEAs have made significant progress in developing and implementing policies/standards relative to the education of severely handicapped students, in many instances incongruities exist between definitions utilized and certification standards that have been adopted.