How To Become A Special Education Teacher/Case Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a special education teacher/case manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Margaret Carroll

If you hold the title of special education teacher/case manager, you will perform duties in both roles. This means that aside from being a SPED teacher, you are also managing the case of some or all of your students, which may include disadvantaged children or children in the foster system.

As a special education teacher/case manager, your work responsibilities revolve around providing special instruction to students and managing cases. In between, you will also usually be responsible for working on students' individual education programs, keeping track of their progress, and coordinating with other professionals (e.g., psychologists, social workers, community program leaders) to improve their education and overall wellbeing.

The typical requirement for this role is a degree in special education or psychology, preferably a master's degree. In addition to that, having prior experience working with special kid's needs is also a great advantage. And just like other teaching jobs, you are also required to have a teaching license to practice this profession.

What general advice would you give to a special education teacher/case manager?

Margaret Carroll

Coordinator for Special Education Programs, Saint Xavier University

Special educators must be ready to collaborate. They collaborate with parents and other professionals when they develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each of the students they serve. They collaborate with general education teachers by co-teaching with them and supporting students with IEPs in the general education classroom.

ScoreSpecial Education Teacher/Case ManagerUS Average

Salary

6.4

Avg. Salary $82,293

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.1

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.33%

Asian 3.16%

Black or African American 5.98%

Hispanic or Latino 8.70%

Unknown 3.82%

White 78.02%

Gender

female 76.19%

male 23.81%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.5

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a special education teacher/case manager

Explore special education teacher/case manager education requirements

Most common special education teacher/case manager degrees

Master's

55.6 %

Bachelor's

27.8 %

Associate

11.1 %

Start to develop specific special education teacher/case manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Professional Development	48.55%
IEP	42.55%
Direct Services	8.90%

Research special education teacher/case manager duties and responsibilities

Manage and develop special education adaptations with administeringstate testing that are require based on the IEP.
Work together to modify instruction and assignments to maintain compliance with IEP accommodations/modifications for each student.
Tutor students individually in grades k-5, assessing specific areas of need and developing assignments/activities for skill improvement.

Apply for special education teacher/case manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a special education teacher/case manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do special education teacher/case managers rate their job?

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Special education teacher/case manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023

Cons

The demand and low pay. Teachers have families, too.