Special Education Undergraduate Assessment

The teaching degrees offered by the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling at USU are accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Programs (AAQEP).

Program Outcomes

The learning outcomes for all programs listed below are outlined in our accreditation report, submitted August 25, 2025. It is housed in Box using this link. In order for the internal links in the PDF to work, one must download the whole folder and then use the PDF to read the report. Alternatively, the standalone PDF (without working links) is available. 

Assessment Planning

The program learning outcomes are addressed throughout the program in various classes, as summarized by this curriculum matrix.

Data Collection

The implementation cycle of our program assessments includes the following:
1. Every student is assessed using the student teaching evaluation rubric and disposititions assessment at the end of their student teaching experience. This assessment serves as the culminating summative assessment of all program learning objectives. 
2. Indirect assessment of program learning outcomes is assessed through an annual survey of alumni and employers of alumni. The results are summarized in the annual reports linked below. 
3. Program surveys are conducted regularly and provide the data for making program improvement decisions. See Data-Based Decisions below.

Use of Results to Inform Program Changes

Strategic Planning Based on Analysis of Program Evaluation Data:

Potential program changes in terms of curriculum and program updates are reviewed using the data collected through the data collection process. These data points are reviewed in the USU Undergraduate Committee monthly meetings.

Updates made to the program in 2024-2025 academic year, based on program evaluation and faculty input:

  • Added literacy curriculum to birth to 5 specialization.
  • Developed field experience handbooks for each emphases.
  • Implemented a new rubric for student teacher evaluation, called the Student Teaching Evaluation Rubric (STER). This new instrument aligns with a revised version of the General Teaching Competencies for Teaching Preparation Programs.
  • Participation in the Utah Registered Apprenticeship Program for Teachers (U-RAPT).
  • Program Surveys will be reviewed at monthly undergraduate committee meetings and goals will be set.

AAQEP Annual Reports

Annual Feedback on Assessment

The undergraduate leadership team met with the Associate Dean for Accreditation and Undergraduate Studies and reviewed the feedback from ODA. Based on that feedback, we updated the link to the accreditation report, linked the annual reports correctly, and developed a plan for using the results of the program evaluation surveys to make data-based decisions and document them here.

The following teaching majors in Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling are accredited through AAQEP:
  • Special Education Online Practical Teacher Training (OPTT):  Birth to Age 5 Emphasis – BA, BS
  • Special Education Online Practical Teacher Training (OPTT):  Mild/Moderate Emphasis – BA, BS
  • Special Education Online Practical Teacher Training (OPTT):  Severe Emphasis – BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Birth to 5 Emphasis – BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Birth to 5 Emphasis/Early Childhood Education Dual Major – BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Mild/Moderate & Birth to 5 Emphasis – BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Mild/Moderate & Severe Dual Emphasis – BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Mild/Moderate Emphasis – BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Mild/Moderate Emphasis/Elementary Education Composite – BA, BS 
  • Special Education:  Mild/Moderate Emphasis/Secondary Education Dual– BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Severe & Birth to 5 Emphasis – BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Severe Emphasis – BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Severe Emphasis/Elementary Education Composite – BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Severe Emphasis/Secondary Education Dual – BA, BS
  • Special Education:  Birth to 5 Emphasis – BA, BS