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California’s Special Education Teacher Shortage

Naomi Ondrasek, Desiree Carver-Thomas, Caitlin Scott, Linda Darling-Hammond

Originally posted by the Learning Policy Institute

California is in the midst of a severe and deepening shortage of special education teachers—and it is not alone. The field of special education at large has long been plagued by persistent shortages of fully certified teachers, in large part due to a severe drop in teacher education enrollments and high attrition for special educators. As a result, students with disabilities who often have the greatest needs are frequently taught by the least qualified teachers.

To better understand the nature of the shortage in California, and what can be done about it, the Learning Policy Institute released California’s Special Education Teacher Shortage. 

Read the full article.

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Free Toolkit Helps Address Special Education Teacher Shortages Locally

A new, free toolkit is now available to help lead state and district teams through a collaborative process in developing a comprehensive approach for addressing special education teacher shortages.

The toolkit, “Educator Shortages in Special Education: Toolkit for Developing Local Strategies,” is a collaborative effort between the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders and the Collaborative for Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform, both funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

The free resource is organized around a facilitation guide and three supporting tools. Aligned with current efforts from OSEP, the collaborative process featured in the toolkit intentionally examines shortages across the entire career continuum—from attracting to preparing to retaining teachers—so that all students with disabilities have access to effective teachers.

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2019 OSEP Symposia Series to Focus on Preparing, Retaining, Attracting Personnel to Serve Children With Disabilities

This year’s Symposia Series from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) will focus on strategies to attract, prepare, and retain effective personnel — general and special education teachers, early childhood personnel, and related services providers — who have the knowledge and skills needed to provide effective instruction, interventions, supports, and services to children with disabilities.

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Schools Struggle to Find Therapists

James D. Wolf, Jr.

Originally posted by the Monticello Herald Journal, June 26, 2019

Speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and even school psychologists are scarce, and they tend to go to clinics and hospitals, which pay more.

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An Administrator—and Former SLP—Shares His Perspective on the LA Teachers’ Strike

Kyle Epps
Originally posted by Leader Live, February 13, 2019

A new Los Angeles Unified School District contract includes improvements such as workspace for itinerant employees, a caseload/workload taskforce, revised language on caseload limits, and a commitment from the union and the school district to work together to increase funding for special education services and staff.

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Shortage of Special Educators Adds to Classroom Pressures

Christina A. Samuels and Alex Harwin
Originally posted by Education Week, December 5, 2018

The number of special education teachers nationally has dropped by more than 17 percent over the past decade, a worrisome trend in a career path that has seen chronic shortages for years.

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Teacher Shortage Hitting Illinois School Districts Hard

Jason Nevel
Originally posted by The State Journal-Register (Springfield, Illinois), November 12, 2017

A “perfect storm” of factors—including tough licensing requirements, fears about state funding, low starting salaries, and negative perception of education—has affected the amount of vacancies in Illinois public schools. There are currently 2,013 unfilled positions in the state, including teachers, administrative staff, and school support staff, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

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Districts Tap Paraprofessionals to Meet Demand for Special Ed Teachers

Linda Jacobson
Originally posted by EducationDIVE, October 19, 2017

“In the first year of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s STEP UP and Teach program, 150 paraprofessionals enrolled in the program, which provides up to $4,800 in tuition reimbursement, professional development and guidance from a mentor as the candidates take on more teaching responsibilities in classrooms and work toward their degree. … Many [of the] paraprofessionals come from the communities where they work, which in diverse school districts can help to increase the numbers of educators who share the same race, ethnicity and home language as the students they serve.”

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The Special Education Teacher Crisis: Who’s Teaching Our Most Vulnerable Students?

Desiree Carver-Thomas
Originally posted by the Learning Policy Institute, May 16, 2017

Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia experienced shortages of special education teachers in the 2016–17 school year. As a result, school districts have filled those vacancies with underprepared teachers. Strategic investments in evidence-based programs can alleviate this perennial shortage.

Read the full article.