Comprehensive Exam Requirement -Graduate Low Incidence Program

Comprehensive Exam Requirement

The comprehensive exam is an exit requirement for all candidates in the High Incidence Special Education program (degree or non-degree seeking).

The Comprehensive Exam is embedded in SPED 849: Practicum in Low Incidence Special Education, which is the last course you will take in the program. Read the information below to learn more, and to ensure that you have successfully completed all required actions in order to meet this program requirement.

Sign up for the Comprehensive Exam - Degree Seeking Candidates Only

If you are a degree seeking candidate, you must sign up for comprehensive exams through the Graduate School website at the beginning of the semester in which you are enrolled in SPED 849.  Be sure to monitor deadlines for signing up for comprehensive exams on that same website, and watch for emails from your advisor with due dates and steps for your final semester.

The Praxis Is NOT the Comprehensive Exam

The Comprehensive Exam is NOT the Praxis. 

If you are planning to teach special education in the state of Kansas, you will need to take and pass the Praxis 5547 SPED: Severe to Profound exam. This is not a graduation requirement or a program completion requirement. It is a Kansas State Department of Education requirement.

For more information about which one to take, how to sign up, and resources for success, visit the Praxis page.

So What Is the Comprehensive Exam in SPED 849?

The comprehensive exam requirement is met once you have successfully completed the major course requirements for SPED 849. The major course requirements are the Case Study Assignment components. Once passed successfully, these components demonstrate that you have met all of the Kansas State Department of Education Licensure Standards for High Incidence Special Education. Below is a  quick summary of what you'll be doing for the Case Study Assignment:

Part 1: Case Study Students Overview

Provide a written description of the case study student you have selected to work with in this course. 

Part 2: Tier 1 Lesson Plan

Review a Tier 1 lesson plan (provided in class), and provide consultation and support on how to revise the lesson, adding evidence-based accommodations and instructional strategies and incorporating Universal Design for Learning principles that will better support your case study students. 

Part 3: Tier 2-3 Lesson Plan

Reviewing your case study student IEP goals, you will design a lesson to be taught that demonstrates your ability to provide explicit instruction aligned to student's differentiated needs. You will also select and describe the evidence-based intervention you will use, explaining the rationale and how it will be used to ensure fidelity of instruction to the approach.

Part 4: Reflection and Coaching

Once you have received feedback on your lesson plan and selected evidence-based intervention, you will video-record yourself teaching the lesson to your case study student, reflect on your instruction, and then engage in peer learning groups to share videos and provide peer coaching to one another. 

For More Information About the Comprehensive Exam Requirement

Contact your Academic Advisor

Contact your SPED 849 Course Instructor