Students receiving special education services have their own unique learning needs. We need a robust pipeline of teachers who are well prepared to provide the support and accommodations necessary to help these students succeed.
Why Better Preparation and Support of Teachers of Students with Disabilities Matters
Special education teachers need specialized training to address their students’ academic and behavioral needs. Teacher preparation programs must ensure that aspiring teachers graduate with a solid understanding of effective, evidence-based interventions to tailor instruction for their students.
Teacher shortages are especially acute in special education. States and districts can address this challenge by offering higher pay, bonuses, or other strategic compensation that attracts and retains highly skilled special education teachers.
Closing the preparation and support gaps for these educators is key to ensuring all students, regardless of their needs, have access to the effective instruction they deserve.
Latest Findings
Strategies to build a sustainable special education teacher workforce
One in every seven American public school children receives special education services, yet this area has been states’ most commonly cited shortage area every year dating back to the late 1990s.
Here NCTQ examines the incentives that states and the largest school districts across the country offer to attract and retain special education teachers.
