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…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of special educators in the pivot from in-person to virtual learning during COVID-19. A national sample of 46 participants participated in the study. Individual recorded interviews were conducted with each participant by the primary researcher. Two…

Young children experience traumatic events at high rates. Early childhood special education programs are an optimal time for implementing trauma-informed care. Minimal research has been done to understand early childhood special education teachers' attitudes and experiences with trauma-informed care. Using a convergent mixed methods approach, this…

Special educators are among the countless professionals adversely impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. Before the pandemic, the special education profession was associated with increased occupational stress, anxiety, and job dissatisfaction. As we progress through the first post-pandemic school year, special educators continue…

In an effort to better support the needs of PK-12 students identified as gifted or high-ability, school leaders need to be familiar and comfortable with supporting gifted education educators and developing and evaluating gifted education programs. Gifted education educators should have defined roles and responsibilities, and school leaders need to…

Students with extensive support needs (ESN), most of whom are taught in separate settings by special educators without extensive academic preparation, have difficulty making progress in the general education curriculum. Although there is evidence that data-based decision-making improves achievement for a wide range of students, there is little…

The rapid growth of academic occupational therapy programs in the United States, combined with an increase in senior faculty retirement, requires a new, growing, robust and well-prepared faculty workforce. In addition to the growth of programs, faculty shortages necessitate proactive strategies for preparing transitioning clinicians for successful…

Although the importance of assistive technology (AT) has been supported in the literature, preservice special education teachers (PSETs) are still graduating with inadequate AT knowledge and skills. In this study, an educational technology course was modified and the PSETs' perceptions about their AT knowledge and skills and the course were…

The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to determine if and to what extent a statistically significant difference existed between traditionally certified special education teachers and alternatively certified special education teachers in the burnout scales of depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment as well…

Given the national shortage of special educators, many are entering the profession through alternative certification, assuming full responsibility for classrooms or caseloads before they are fully licensed as special education teachers. This qualitative study explores the support provided to beginning alternative certification teachers in a…

Inclusive education presents a significant challenge for contemporary society. All children should have the opportunity to develop according to their educational needs within an inclusive environment. The effectiveness of the school support team plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. This research aimed to explore the perspectives of…

Teacher beliefs about race and dis/ability1 are important in understanding how teachers educate and support students of color with dis/abilities. This is particularly critical because of the overrepresentation of students of color in special education, irrelevant curriculum, and poor post-school outcomes which continue to impact students of color…

This paper critically examines the centrally administered pre-service teacher preparation program for learning disabilities in India. With no equivalent Indian competency standards, this paper analyses components of the teacher preparation curriculum in the light of 22 high leverage practices (HLPs) outlined by the Council for Exceptional Children…

The success of the inclusion of students with disabilities substantially depends on the collaboration of various social agents, including non-disabled peers, who play a substantial role in the lives of students with disabilities. Peers, as social agent, are responsible for the creation of a favourable social environment, in which one of the key…

Pacing guides are commonplace yet controversial in American public schools. For teachers who question their usefulness, one means to circumvent them is to exercise autonomy in pedagogical decision-making, though doing so comes with challenges. Through interviews, we examined how 87 gifted and general education 4th and 5th grade math and…