Colorado bill aims to tackle special-education teacher shortage

A bill making its way through the Colorado legislature aims to address a critical shortage of special-education teachers by eliminating licensing requirements that have deterred qualified educators from entering the profession.

Colorado’s State Board of Education currently requires aspiring special-education teachers to take five Praxis exams, which is more than double what most other states require. Elizabeth Hinde, dean of Metropolitan State University of Denver’s School of Education, said this has discouraged students from finishing their special-education licensure programs or led them to delay taking the exams, keeping them from entering classrooms where they are badly needed.

Senate Bill 25-154 would reduce the required licensing examinations for aspiring special-education, elementary and early-childhood special-education teachers to no more than three exams. The move is intended to alleviate financial and logistical barriers that have made it difficult for aspiring teachers to obtain licensure, even after completing rigorous coursework and hands-on experience.

The Colorado Department of Education reported that three of the top five areas of teacher shortages in 2023-24 were in special-education subject areas.

An unnecessary barrier

Across the country, the need for special-education teachers is acute, with 74% of public schools reporting difficulty filling positions for the 2024-25 school year. However, Colorado’s testing requirements have created a unique hurdle for aspiring educators, Hinde said.

“Most states that require the Praxis test for teacher licensure only require zero to two tests for special-education candidates, while in Colorado, we require that they take five tests,” Hinde said. “This is at a cost of over $475 plus almost eight hours. And that’s if students pass the first time.”

Adding to the frustration, Hinde noted, some of these tests are not aligned with Colorado’s state content standards, raising questions about their relevance.

“We know that the tests are having the effect of keeping highly qualified people out of the teaching profession,” she said. “This bill, which MSU Denver helped write, would eliminate some unnecessary and costly tests and streamline the path for people who want to become teachers, especially special-education teachers.”

‘Overwhelming’ challenges for aspiring educators

For Payton Pritchard, who graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in Special Education in December, the testing requirements have been a significant hurdle.

“Studying for the exams was really overwhelming,” Pritchard said. “I was told I could graduate without having the tests, but I was encouraged to take them as soon as possible.”

Despite her qualifications and passion for the field, fueled by personal experiences growing up with a best friend who has autism, Pritchard struggled with the high-stakes tests.

“Praxis wouldn’t accept my Individualized Education Program for more time,” she explained. “I had five Praxis exams (and) was taking prep tests and failing.”

The financial burden was another significant obstacle. Pritchard estimated that preparing for and taking the tests cost her between $700 and $800.

“There are so many people out there that are still working on passing the tests or saving up for them,” she said. “When I heard the requirements could be dropped to two or three tests, it finally felt doable.”

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The stakes for students

The shortage of special-education teachers is not just an administrative issue; it has real consequences for students with disabilities. Pritchard, who works as an instructional paraprofessional with fifth-graders, emphasized the importance of having teachers who are passionate and adaptable.

“A lot of these students need teachers who will modify their teaching to fit every student,” she said. “If they (the Board of Education) had the time to observe how we act with these kids, to see who we are and our hearts, they’d know we belong in the classroom. Anyone can answer a question on a test, regardless of how they are with the kids.”

She also noted that the need for special-education teachers is only growing. “More kids are starting to qualify for special-education services,” Pritchard said. “We need more teachers in these classrooms, not barriers keeping them out.”

A step toward solutions

The Colorado State Board of Education has agreed to take up the issue at an upcoming meeting, rather than waiting for the bill to pass through the legislature. Going through the board rather than the legislature would have the added benefit of quicker implementation. If the board fails to pass the change to testing requirements, the Senate bill’s sponsor, Sen. Cathy Kipp, said she will reintroduce the provision this session.

For educators such as Pritchard, the change is long overdue. “I just want to see these kids succeed and have everything they need to grow in life,” she said. “That should be the focus — not how well I can take a test.”