The Pennsylvania State Department of Education recently changed to a noncategorical certificate for special education teachers based on three factors: overlap in categorical programs, generalization of materials and methods across all categories, and similarity in daily activities of special education teachers regardless of categorical assignment.…

Papers are presented from a debate held in 1983 on noncategorical versus categorical programming for behaviorally disordered children and youth. C. Nelson and K. Greenough advocate the noncategorical approach, asserting that categorical approaches can be harmful, are nonfunctional in educational terms, and are less practical than alternative…

Responses to EC 604 077 include "A Proposed Certification Model for Special Education" (Paul Sindelar et al.), "Categorical versus Noncategorical versus Cross-Categorical Teacher Certification in Special Education" (Ann Nevin), and "Do We Have to Choose Categorical versus Noncategorical?" (Judith Bondurant-Utz et…

This article describes the results of a survey of Alabama special education teacher educators, school superintendents, special education coordinators, and noncategorically certified teachers five years after implementation of a mild learning-handicaps teaching certificate in the state, and relates the findings to national reports on this topic.…

An administrator of a school for students with visual impairments and multiple disabilities raises concerns about assumptions of inclusive education that "all teachers can teach all children" and movements toward a generic "teacher of the handicapped" certificate. He maintains that blindness requires highly specialized interventions. (DB)

A nationwide study was conducted to examine the trend toward or away from noncategorical teacher certification in special education, as well as patterns and limits of existing state certification systems. Responses from both State Directors of Special Education and State Certification Officers were obtained at a rate of 100% and 98% respectively.…

This survey of 51 state directors of special education and 50 state certification officers found that, although states offering categorical certification alone outnumber those offering only noncategorical certification, there is wide variation among states and a trend toward noncategorical models. Recommendations emphasizing interagency…

This study examined the literature and state policies concerning noncategorical certification of special education teachers. First, the issues are identified and include services organized around the categorical conditions defined in Federal law, the tendency of categorical certification to adversely affect teacher supply and limit administrative…

To evaluate suggested improvements in rural special education services, behavior disordered, learning disabled, and educable mentally handicapped students (total N=89) in grades seven through nine were compared on three measures. Instructionally relevant differences were minimal, the need for categorical resource rooms was questioned, and…

Forty-eight chief state certification officers and 50 state Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) officers responded to a two-part survey on special education certification and the supply and demand of special education and related services personnel. Survey data were considered within the context of recently approved federal…