The issue of teacher shortages has long been a concern in schools across the nation. Currently, the majority of states have reported persistent shortages, with special education experiencing the most severe gaps. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of school climate on teacher retention in special education schools. Special…

There is a shortage of special education teachers, particularly in rural locations. The revolving door of special educators is a burden on district taxpayers, administrators, and students in need of special programming. Therefore, increasing and improving special education teacher longevity is a need in most school districts in rural areas. The…

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to learn more about the experiences of school principals pertaining to special education leadership and the management of special education teachers in their buildings. The researcher hoped to become aware of how public-school building principals first learned about special education and…

Data-based instruction (DBI) is a process in which teachers use progress data to make ongoing instructional decisions for students with learning disabilities. Curriculum-based measurement (CBM) is a common form of progress monitoring, and CBM data are placed on a graph to guide decision-making. Despite the central role that graph interpretation…

This report provides formative data about the implementation of projects associated with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education's Attract, Prepare, and Retain (APR) efforts during the 2023-24 school year. We surveyed or interviewed students and educators participating in six such projects: Developing Future Special Educators Grants, APR…

This study sought to gain perspective into the emotions of special education teachers and their feelings of self-efficacy in their ability to provide their students with virtual instruction. A phenomenological study was conducted utilizing a two-interview process to gain insight into those feelings and emotions. By utilizing a phenomenological…

Over the last decade, there has been ample evidence reporting the lack of high-quality and compliant Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in the United States. This problem has many consequences, including poor student outcomes and failure to follow legal due process. Despite these consequences, research has not thoroughly examined the…

There are evident shortages with increased demands for qualified special education teachers (SETs) nationwide (Peyton et al., 2021). Although efforts have been made to reduce SET attrition and increase retention, it is still unknown what job factors influence SETs' intent to stay, transfer, migrate, pursue administrative positions, pursue…

This report provides data about the special education teacher pipeline in Pennsylvania and projects associated with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education's Attract, Prepare, and Retain (APR) efforts. We first used administrative data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to provide a historical portrait of the special education…

The purpose of this case study is to examine the impact that social emotional learning (SEL) has on students within a partnered learning classroom environment. Most research on social emotional learning focuses on elementary aged students, and lacks data from high school aged adolescents. Research interests include topics such as body language…

Student enrollment in K-12 blended learning classes, including for students with disabilities, has steadily increased in the last decade and is likely to continue post pandemic. Although more K-12 students with disabilities are accessing blended learning opportunities, how special education itinerant teachers (SEITs) engage students with…

Students with chronic health conditions are living longer lives, thanks to medical advances. This group of students spend more time in classrooms, and teachers have become tasked with meeting the needs of this growing population. Teachers require supports on best practices for educating students with chronic health conditions who are in their…

This qualitative phenomenological study delved into the factors influencing the retention of special education teachers in rural Luzerne County, Pennsylvania school districts. The focus was on understanding why these educators chose to continue in their positions despite facing significant challenges such as limited resources, administrative…

We used longitudinal staffing data from Pennsylvania to explore differences in special education personnel attrition across personnel categories, individual characteristics, and district characteristics. Special education administrators and school psychologists had the highest attrition rates among special education personnel, with special…

Students with intellectual disability (ID) tend to have different experiences than their peers without ID as it pertains to the curriculum they receive, the locations where they are taught, and the amount of time they are provided instruction. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the curricular areas and contexts in which high…