Demand for special education teachers grew continuously from the passage of Public Law 94-142 in 1975 through 2005, when this trend reversed. From 2005 to 2012, the number of special education teachers employed by U.S. schools declined by >17%. The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine factors that contributed to this decline.…

After decades of growth, the number of special education teachers (SETs) has begun to decline. In 2009, U.S. schools employed 13% fewer SETs than in 2006. The number of annual new hires of SETs also dropped dramatically in some states. The onset of these declines predated the economic downturn of 2008 and resulted in part from a steady decline…

This paper addresses the national quantity demand, supply, and shortage of special education teachers (SETs) in comparison to general education teachers (GETs). The main data source was the 1999-00 Schools and Staffing Survey. Results indicated that the total demand for SETs increased 38% from 240,000 in 1987-88 to 330,000 in 1999-00, a rate of…

Based on a sample of 46,599 public school teachers, a study investigated the certification status of both special and general education teachers. Results indicated a chronic annual shortage of about 29,000 fully certified teachers in special education, a level that was almost twice the number in general education. (Author/CR)

With a focus on both teacher quality and quantity at the national level, this research examined long-term trends in the demand, supply, and shortage of special education teachers for 16 school years, from 1987/1988 through 2002/2003. These trends were based on data published in annual reports to Congress on the implementation of the Individuals…

This report discusses findings on the shortage of qualified teachers for students with disabilities. Data from the 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey and the 1992 Teacher Followup Survey of the National Center for Education Statistics, along with annual data reported by the Office of Special Education Programs and other data collected by the…

This paper provides data on supply and demand for special education teachers from a national probability sample of 46,599 public school teachers from the 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey. In comparison with general education, there was a greater percentage demand in special education, and special education filled a higher percentage of open…

The Teacher Followup Survey of 4,798 public school teachers found higher annual turnover for special education teachers than for general education teachers, in both attrition from public school teaching and transfer among public schools. General and special education teachers who left did not differ significantly in postteaching activities or…

This study used existing databases to analyze, from a national perspective, the specific components of retention, transfer, and attrition of special education teachers (SETs) in comparison with general education teachers (GETs). The study used data from the 1990-1991 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) and the 1992 Teacher Followup Survey (TFS).…

The Teacher Followup Survey of 4,798 public school teachers found that teacher turnover decreased as the following variables increased: age, the number of dependent children, the level of certification, the number of years since the last degree was earned, teaching experience, and salary level. Strategies to maximize teacher retention are…

This paper presents 1989 National Center for Education Statistics data on public school special education and general education teacher retention, transfer, and attrition. The study examined teachers in 1987-1988 who, in the next year, either remained as teachers in the same school, transferred to a different public school, or left public school…

This article describes characteristics of special education teachers based on data collected and analyzed by the federal government. Tables, graphs, and text present data on the teaching force by age, ethnicity, gender, full certification in main teaching field, highest degree, teaching experience, and likelihood of becoming a teacher again. (DB)

This study evaluated turnover of special education teachers by providing national estimates of the numbers of special education teachers who (1) were retained by their school, (2) were reassigned to a different school within the district, (3) migrated to another district, or (4) left public school teaching. Numbers were drawn from the 1987-88…

This report presents national trend data on the supply and turnover of public school teachers in K-12 special and general education. Data were derived from three large national probability samples of teachers taken over a six-year period from 1987 to 1994. A summary of the results is in two sections. The first section, on trends in teacher supply,…

This study used existing databases to analyze, from a national perspective, the turnover of special education teachers (SETs) at the district level due to district migration, teaching field transfer, and exit attrition. The study also investigated district retention of SETs as a function of district location and teacher experience. The study used…