Metropolitan State College of Denver
CASEL Program

The Colorado Accelerated Special Education Licensure (CASEL) program is a special education Teacher-in-Residence program at Metropolitan State College of Denver. This is a program for teachers who hold a contract as a special educator in one of the following districts: Adams 12, Adams 50, Aurora, Brighton, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas County, Jefferson County, Littleton, and Sheridan.

Interested persons holding a college degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education should take and pass the PRAXIS II assessment 10014, Elementary Education Content Knowledge, or the PLACE Elementary Education assessment, number 01, before admission to the program. Additional information about PRAXIS dates and registration procedures can be found at www.ets.org/praxis  . PLACE information is available at www.place.nesinc.com . The registration code for Metropolitan State College of Denver is 4505.

Interested candidates must also have their undergraduate transcripts reviewed by a school district official or Educator Licensing staff at the Colorado Department of Education to verify completion of 30 hours of liberal arts course requirements before admission to the program.

Teachers enrolled in the CASEL program complete 48 hours of special education coursework during a two-week session in July 2008, and at weekly classes during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years. Candidates are also required to complete a four-week practicum during the summer of 2009. Teachers will be eligible for a Special Education Generalist license from the Colorado Department of Education when they have successfully completed the CASEL program and achieved a passing score on the PLACE Generalist assessment, taken during the second year of the program. CASEL candidates are recommended for licensure by their respective school districts.

CASEL orientation and initial coursework will be completed at Metro South, 5660 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard in Greenwood Village, from July 14 to July 24, 2008, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. During the school year, program participants will meet on Tuesdays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Denver Public Schools Career Education Center, 2650 Eliot Street. CASEL instructors provide ongoing supervision and support in the assigned school for each teacher enrolled in the program throughout the two years.

MSCD application forms will be completed at the first class session. Tuition for the program is $4099 plus a $12 fee for each year of the program. The annual costs will be deducted in nine monthly installments from each participant’s paycheck by his or her school district. Tuition and fees ($2056 for each semester) can be also be paid in full in August and January by check, money order, or charge to Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. Participants in the CASEL program are eligible to apply for financial aid through the Financial Aid office (303 556-4741) at Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Interested candidates should contact Delia Armstrong at 303 399-3728 or deliadenver@msn.com.