Grow Your Own
The Work and Learn Program is for current or prospective Special Education employees in a Minnesota School District. The program provides a pathway for participants to earn their teaching license in special education while working in their district. Since the beginning of the program, 180 students have graduated with their Academic and Behavior Strategist (ABS) license. See below for our current cohorts and partnerships.
The program offers participants significant cost-savings on the coursework needed for an ABS license and master's degree. This is done by reducing the credits from 43 to 31. An additional special education licensure can be easily added.
Our Work and Learn program provides a non-conventional pathway to licensure that significantly reduces students’ costs by allowing them to maintain their employment through student teaching. Participants in Work and Learn are working in Minnesota school districts employed as Tier I and II Special Education Teachers or Paraprofessionals.
Start dates are throughout the year, depending on the school district. These annual offerings provide districts with an opportunity to market and recruit candidates into tiered license positions in critical areas of shortages.
Work and Learn is a PELSB (Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board) accredited teacher preparation program.
Serving Greater Minnesota
This fully online program provides a pathway for participants to earn a teaching license and master’s degree in special education while being fully employed for a Minnesota school district. The cohort will start in Summer 2023. Learn more by viewing the Work and Learn Greater Minnesota flyer.
Deadline for applying is March 24, 2023. Access Application Instructions here.
Serving ISD 196, Intermediate 916, 917, 288 and member districts
This fully online program provides a pathway for participants to earn a teaching license and master’s degree in special education while being fully employed for a school district. The cohort will start in Summer 2023 and is open to school district employees only. Learn more about Work and Learn East and Work and Learn Southwest, which are joining for a combined online cohort.
Upcoming Online Information Sessions: February 9 @ 7:30 a.m., February 9 @ 4 p.m.
Deadline for applying is March 24, 2023. Access Application Instructions here.
Serving Anoka-Hennepin District
This program provides a pathway for participants to earn a teaching license and master’s degree in special education while being fully employed for a school district. The cohort will start in Fall 2023 and is open to Anoka-Hennepin district employees only.
Application coming soon.
Priority Serving ISD 728 first then open to all MN districts
The Work and Learn Northwest program is for current or prospective employees of ISD 728 first and then open to all Minnesota districts. The fully online program provides a pathway for participants to earn their teaching license in special education and master's degree while working for the district.
Join One of These Future Cohorts
Work and Learn Greater Minnesota
Work and Learn North
Why Work and Learn
