Special Education Services

The Oklahoma State Department of Education, Special Education Services, realizes the importance of having qualified and appropriately certified personnel serving our students with special needs. In an effort to reduce the shortage of special education personnel, the OSDE-SES is excited to offer three reimbursement programs—one for bachelor’s level speech pathologists who would like to obtain a master’s degree, one for those school psychologists currently working in Oklahoma public schools who would like to continue work in the graduate program for school psychologists in Oklahoma, and one for those special education teachers currently working in Oklahoma public schools who would like to become certified in the area of visual impairment.

For those individuals interested in the speech pathology or school psychology reimbursement program, please print the forms below and submit as indicated on the forms. If you have questions about these two programs, please contact Tina Spence, Coordinator, by telephone at (405) 521-4877.

For those individuals interested in the reimbursement program for training and certification in the area of visual impairment, please contact Northeastern State University by telephone at (918) 456-5511.

Tuition Reimbursement Form

Tuition Reimbursement Program Service Commitment Letter

Vendor/Payee Form

Pathway II: Reimbursement for Special Education Majors

In an effort to recruit individuals into the field of special education, the SPDG has developed a program, Pathway II, to reimburse special education majors currently attending accredited Oklahoma institutions of higher education (IHE). This reimbursement is offered each semester starting spring of 2008.

Students who are currently enrolled in a special education program at an Oklahoma IHE are eligible to apply for selection in the Pathway II program. Applications are accepted each semester. If selected, participants are agreeing to do the following:

Submit course grades and bursar’s receipt each semester;
Pass the college courses with a “C” or better;
Take a special education Oklahoma certification exam upon completion of college coursework and submit documentation of passing the exam;
Receive a reimbursement of up to $1,500 for tuition and up to $100 for certification exams;
Obtain a full-time special education teaching position and teach in an Oklahoma public school one (1) year for every semester receiving reimbursement.

Application may be downloaded and must be mailed in along with a Vendor Payee Form and a Service Commitment Letter.