Special Education Graduate Programs

At Bank Street Graduate School of Education, special education begins with a deep commitment to equity and a belief in every learner’s capacity to grow, participate, and thrive.

Rooted in Bank Street’s developmental-interaction approach, our programs prepare educators to work with children across a range of ages and learning contexts. You’ll develop a deep understanding of learning differences and disability while learning to design responsive, differentiated environments that support each student’s academic, social, and emotional development. Through integrated coursework and supervised fieldwork, you will build the skills to provide individualized instruction and create inclusive learning communities where all students belong.

Join our collaborative and supportive community today and earn your teaching credentials from an institution that potential employers know and trust.

What Program Is Right for You?

Online Programs

Experience the flexibility of online learning with the real-time collaboration, mentorship, and community that define Bank Street. Our blend of live and self-paced coursework keeps you deeply connected.

Early Childhood Special Education (Birth–Grade 2) —MSEd, EdM

Early Childhood Special Education Advanced Certificate (Birth–Grade 2)

Students with Disabilities All Grades (Pre-K–12)—MSEd, EdM

Students with Disabilities All Grades Advanced Certification (Pre-K-12)

Bank Street Graduate School of Education Admissions is here to answer your questions

On-Campus Programs

Early Childhood Education

Advance your understanding of child development and how young children with learning differences can benefit through play, social interaction, sensory experiences, and engagement with the world around them.

Early Childhood Special Education (Birth–Grade 2)—MSEd, EdM

Early Childhood Special Education Advanced Certificate (Birth–Grade 2)

Toddlers actively learning with hands-on clay project

All Grades Education

Prepare to teach students with disabilities across all grades, with a focus on academic learning, inclusion, and differentiated instruction. These programs equip you to design accessible curriculum, support diverse learners, and collaborate with families and school teams to ensure every student can succeed.

Students with Disabilities All Grades (Pre-K–12)—MSEd, EdM

Students with Disabilities All Grades Advanced Certification (Pre-K-12)

Student teacher working with a student in the library at Bank Street

Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention

Prepare to support infants and toddlers with diverse developmental profiles and the families who care for them. These programs emphasize responsive, family-centered approaches that nurture development and build on everyday interactions and relationships.

Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special and General Education (Birth–Grade 2)—MSEd

Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (Birth–Grade 2)—MSEd, EdM

Create Your Own Program

Design an individualized course of study in elementary education that is tailored to your own interests and career goals, including work in advocacy, educational policy, curriculum development, and other areas of the field.

Studies in Education—MSEd, EdM

Choosing Bank Street

At Bank Street, we believe that creating inclusive learning environments begins with preparing thoughtful, responsive educators. In our Special Education programs, you will:

Build a strong foundation in learning differences and disability, and learn to apply research-based, inclusive teaching practices across a range of classroom settings
Develop strong observation and assessment skills to understand each learner’s strengths, needs, and progress
Design and adapt curriculum to provide differentiated, individualized instruction that supports meaningful participation for all students
Learn to create inclusive environments that support learning through engagement, interaction, and multiple pathways to understanding
Strengthen your ability to support students’ growth in literacy, mathematics, and critical thinking through accessible and responsive teaching
Prepare to work collaboratively with families, educators, and related service providers to support student success

What sets the Bank Street experience apart is its deeply relational and individualized approach to teacher preparation. Small, collaborative classes emphasize dialogue and reflection, while dedicated faculty and advisors provide ongoing mentorship. Through weekly conference groups and sustained advisement, students engage in continuous cycles of observation, teaching, and reflection—building both practical skill and professional confidence. Graduates leave not only prepared to lead inclusive, equitable classrooms, but also connected to a lifelong professional network committed to advancing education.

Why Bank Street?

All Children Benefit

Bank Street believes that teaching is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Our graduates understand and value every child and are able to individualize instruction to meet learners at their own unique pace.

Prepared for the Long Run

Bank Street is proud that 87% of its graduates remain in the field of education and 87% feel more confident in their specialty than comparison professionals.

A National Reputation

Our graduates are highly regarded by schools, educational organizations, and other places of learning across the country. A degree from Bank Street is a transformative investment in your values and ambitions, helping you stand out as a forward-thinking educator and leader who is confident, well-prepared, and ready to thrive.

Meet our alumni

I do my best work when I focus on the strengths of students, staff, and parents. I won’t lie, my first few years of teaching were hard, but Bank Street prepared me to take on the challenge. In the dual general and special education program, classes are small and the approach is progressive. It fit who I am perfectly.

Rachael Beseda - Childhood Special and General Education '12

Meet Rachael Meet Our Alumni