Welcome to TATERS

The Technology Accentuated Transformative Education for Rural Specialists (TATERS) program is based in the Department of Special Education and Early Childhood Studies at Boise State University. The TATERS project is a federally funded program providing online course delivery and networking to create a professional network of special education teachers across the state of Idaho.

The TATERS program centers around two outcomes: 1) To prepare special education teachers to work in rural areas of Idaho who meet the requirements of highly qualified under the IDEA 2004 regulations and are well prepared to serve children with high incidence disabilities, and 2) To support rural districts in building capacity for stronger mentorship and induction programs for new special education teachers.

With the passage of No Child Left Behind of 2001 (NCLB 2002) and the reauthorization of Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004), the requirements for professional certification have changed dramatically for special educators. Please consult the Idaho State Department of Education website for current information regarding highly qualified teachers and special education.

The TATERS teacher preparation program has aligned coursework with the NCLB 2002 and IDEA 2004 regulations, as well as including the RTI framework. Special education teaching certification in the TATERS program is accomplished by: 1) integrating extended field experiences and building capacity for ongoing high quality mentoring and induction, especially in rural areas, 2) ensuring that the preparation program addresses issues of diversity and the specific needs of English language learners with high incidence disabilities, and 3) providing flexible options to increase access for candidates from rural areas, especially those with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

In order to support practicing special educators in rural areas, TATERS, in partnership with the Idaho State Department of Education, is developing a special education teacher mentor network. One component of this network is the opportunity to complete a four course hybrid (online and live) program that can result in institutional recommendation for the Consulting Teacher Endorsement. Additionally, mentor teachers receive support to attend the Idaho State Council for Exceptional Children conference, and have access to online networking tools to establish professional relationships and support with other special education teachers.