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The Michigan Department of Education is offering an option to help school districts deal with what State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice calls a critical shortage of special education teachers in many Michigan school districts.
The MDE will allow a time limited waiver that enables a district to temporarily fill a vacancy in a special education classroom with a special education teacher whose specialty area - formally called an endorsement - differs from the classroom with an open slot.
The goal is to reduce reliance on substitute teachers in special education programs. Allowing for some flexibility will help districts better staff their classrooms and meet the needs of our students with disabilities, said Rice in a written statement.