Kansas special education endorsement: High Incidence, Low Incidence and how to add one to your license

1. What is a special education endorsement in Kansas?

As we read KSDE’s pages, an endorsement is a teaching area, with its grade levels, on a Kansas license. KSDE’s page for adding one is called Adding An Endorsement to Your License, and its 2026-2027 Licensed Personnel Guide (Rev. Aug. 17, 2026) lists each endorsement with its license level. Special education in Kansas is a set of endorsements, not one. These are the ones KSDE lists under special education, with Early Childhood Unified, which KSDE lists as a separate early childhood endorsement:

The license levels are the 2026-2027 guide’s chart. KSDE’s Approved Educator Preparation Programs by Content Area page says, for Gifted, High Incidence and Low Incidence: “Grade level depends on program that is completed.” It lists Early Childhood Unified (ECU) programs for Birth – Grade 3 and also for Birth – Kindergarten. KSDE’s Adding An Endorsement page prints the first two names as “High Incidence (formally known as adaptive)” and “Low Incidence (formally known as functional)”, and the 2026-2027 guide lists them as Adaptive SPED/High Incidence and Functional SPED/Low Incidence.

2. How to add a special education endorsement: why a test alone can’t

For most subjects, KSDE’s rule is short. It says: “Educators that hold an active Kansas initial or professional teaching license may add most endorsements by passing the appropriate Praxis content exam.” Special education is different. KSDE’s page has a list headed “Endorsements that cannot be added by test only are:”, and that list includes High Incidence (formerly adaptive), Low Incidence (formerly functional), Gifted, Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Visually Impaired, along with Early Childhood Unified (ECU). KSDE’s 2026-2027 guide marks each of them “No” in its column for endorsement by testing only.

Requirements for a High Incidence or Low Incidence endorsement

For these and the other special education endorsements, KSDE asks for both an approved program and the Praxis content exam before the application:

• Complete an approved program in the endorsement area. KSDE’s Approved Educator Preparation Programs by Content Area page lists the Kansas institutions approved to offer each program. For Deaf or Hard of Hearing and for Visually Impaired, that page says: “Currently, no Kansas institutions offer a specific program for this certification. However, individuals can complete an approved out-of-state program and transfer their license to Kansas, provided they meet licensure requirements.” Section 6 covers the out-of-state application.
• Pass the appropriate Praxis content exam (section 3), and have your score sent to KSDE: its recipient code is 7270.
• Apply. KSDE puts the application last: “Once the program is completed and you have passed the appropriate Praxis content exam”, you complete an application and pay the processing fee. Applications are made online in the Kansas Licensure Applications System (KLAS). KSDE says: “Application processing fees are non-refundable.” Its pages give no amount for this fee.

ETS, the Praxis test vendor KSDE links, says on its Kansas page: “Adding a new licensure endorsement requires a passing score on the appropriate content assessment.” For a special education endorsement, that passing score is one step of the program route above, not a route of its own.

3. Praxis tests for special education in Kansas: where KSDE points

KSDE does not list the Praxis tests for its endorsements on its own pages. Its Content Assessment Exams page says: “You can find a list of all currently approved content assessment exams on the Praxis ETS Kansas webpage.” Kansas law authorizes the Kansas State Board of Education to adopt the rules for issuing and renewing Kansas teaching licenses; KSDE points to ETS’s Kansas page for its list of approved content assessment exams.

ETS’s Praxis “Kansas” page, read November 1, 2026, lists the content tests for each special education endorsement and for Early Childhood Unified (ECU), and ETS states no effective date for its scores. This guide does not repeat ETS’s test numbers: check the test for your endorsement on ETS’s Praxis Kansas page, and send your score to KSDE with recipient code 7270. If you are unsure which test applies to you, ask KSDE’s Teacher Licensure team (section 7).

4. The provisional special education endorsement

KSDE’s license information page describes a Provisional Teaching Endorsement License, which lets a licensed teacher teach in a new area for a time while completing the coursework for the full endorsement. For special education areas (high-incidence, low-incidence, deaf/hard-of-hearing, gifted or visually impaired, in KSDE’s list), it asks for:

• A Kansas license. “You must already hold a valid Kansas teaching license (either Initial or Professional).”
• Special coursework. “Completed classes in special education methods and characteristics of exceptional children, plus a practicum in the specific area.”
• A deficiency plan from your college or university, listing the courses you still need to finish.
• A job. “Confirmation that you have a teaching job in the area of the provisional endorsement.”
• The application for a provisional endorsement license, made in the Kansas Licensure Applications System (KLAS).

KSDE’s 2026-2027 Licensed Personnel Guide adds the rest. Provisional endorsements last two years. For other subjects, an applicant must first complete 50 percent of the approved program; for special education provisional endorsements, the methods, characteristics and practicum coursework is required instead, and 50 percent of the program is not. The endorsement may be renewed for two more years once 50 percent of the deficiency plan is complete, with continued employment, and the guide says the applicant must be employed in the endorsement area before the provisional endorsement can be issued or renewed. The regulation (K.A.R. 91-1-205, 2021 text) allows this renewal one time.

5. Elementary special education teachers and the science of reading (from July 1, 2028)

KSDE’s Science of Reading Licensure Requirements page says: “Beginning July 1, 2028, Kansas veteran educators serving in the positions listed below will be required to demonstrate knowledge of the science of reading to renew their professional license.” Its list of those positions includes “Elementary Special Education teacher.” For licensure, KSDE says elementary means grades PreK-6. Middle and secondary teachers are not on the list.

The knowledge can be shown by completing state-approved training (LETRS is one of the trainings KSDE names) or by passing a state-approved literacy exam, and educators who complete it get a Seal of Literacy on their license. KSDE says it identifies the educators who must do this from districts’ Licensed Personnel Report. For an educator who was required to do it and does not qualify, KSDE says “her/his professional license will not be renewed.” A standard substitute license is issued instead, and after completing the training or passing the exam, the educator re-applies to reinstate the professional license.

A 2026 law, House Bill 2485, says: “No retired or substitute teacher shall be required to complete approved training in the science of reading and structured literacy or other training to achieve a seal of literacy.” KSDE’s science of reading page does not mention this line, and the sources read for this guide don’t say how it applies to a professional license renewal after July 1, 2028, or who counts as retired here. Ask KSDE about your own renewal.

Our Kansas teaching license guide covers this rule with the rest of professional license renewal.

6. Moving to Kansas with another state’s special education license

KSDE’s 2026-2027 guide says: “You cannot teach in Kansas based on an out-of-state license or certificate.” To apply for a Kansas license based on another state’s license, KSDE’s license information page lists, among other items: “A copy of your current, standard out-of-state teaching license.” It also says: “The Kansas license you are applying for must match the endorsement(s) listed on your out-of-state license.” So the endorsements on that Kansas license follow the ones on your out-of-state license.

The out-of-state application asks for more: transcripts, a content test, verification of your teacher preparation program, teaching experience, fingerprints and a license in good standing. Our Kansas teaching license guide covers them.

7. SpecialEdResource’s requirement, in its own words

SpecialEdResource’s hiring site states its requirement this way: “Special education certification and a current teaching license from any US state.” The application asks whether you hold a special education certification and whether you hold a current teaching license from a US state. If your license has expired or is inactive, you can still apply, as long as you’ll renew it before you start. We check licenses before the first interview.

Where you live is a separate question on the application. Kansas is one of the 15 states where SpecialEdResource can currently employ tutors, so Kansas residents can apply.

The job’s other requirements are on the job page. For questions about a Kansas endorsement, contact KSDE’s Teacher Licensure team at (785) 296-2288 or TLALicense@ksde.gov, or see KSDE’s license information page.