Special Education Endorsement Project

Complete applications submitted by September 1 will be given priority.

• The school district or special education cooperative must have advertised the special education vacancy statewide on the Montana Jobs-for-Teachers website for a minimum of one month and provide documentation to that effect.
• The district must state that no special education endorsed applicants applied for the position.
• The candidate must hold a Class 1 or 2 Montana Teaching Certificate and have been offered a contract for the advertised special education teaching position.
• All candidates admitted to the project need a mentor for their first year and the district should identify the mentor. The mentor should have three years of teaching in special education and have completed training in mentoring which can be through their school district.
• The candidate must complete their special education endorsement within three years of their project acceptance date. This includes the program requirement of student teaching in their own classroom.
• Candidates admitted to the project must hold a special education teaching position in Montana public schools for an additional two years after obtaining the special education endorsement.

Application for the Special Education Endorsement Project 

Submit the following documents to:   ayoung3@mt.gov

• Completed application form
• Completed participation agreement form signed by all stakeholders
• Letter from the candidate describing their teaching experience and commitment to teaching in the school
• Letter from school district or special education cooperative verifying the applicant has been offered a contract
• Copy of the position advertisement
• Copy of Montana Teaching Certificate:  Class 1 or Class 2
• Copies of unofficial transcripts from all universities the applicant has attended that show the semester of student teaching and degree or degrees
• Plan of Study from the participating Institution of Higher Education, signed by the advisor
• Stipends are available to teachers accepted, contingent upon completion of coursework. 

OPI Contract:

• Eligible candidates will be sent a contract by OPI. This must be signed to be accepted into the project.
• Should the candidate fail to complete the required coursework to obtain the special education endorsement within three years from the date of the agreement, the candidate will be required to repay all sums paid by the OPI under the agreement.
• Should the candidate fail to complete the required additional two years of service in a Montana school, the candidate will repay all sums paid by the OPI under the agreement.

Carroll College, Ms. Kathleen Gilboy, 406-447-4376, kagilboy@carroll.edu

Montana State University Billings, Dr. Susan Gregory,  406-657-2152, sgregory@msubillings.edu

University of Montana, Dr. Trent Atkins, 406-243-4978, trent.atkins@mso.umt.edu  or  Dr. Morgen Alwell, 406-243-5512, morgen.alwell@umontana.edu

University of Montana Western, Dr. Goodson Dzenga, BCBA, 406-683-7177 or 412-886-8245, goodson.dzenga@umwestern.edu

Montana State University (Starting Fall 2025) Dr. Leslie Rogers, 406-994-3879, leslie.rogers@montana.edu 

Special Education Endorsement Project Frequently Asked Questions