The idea that the American education system is at risk is not a new one. This notion was brought to the top of the public agenda 25 years ago with the publication of "A Nation at Risk," and is still actively being addressed through legal reforms, mandates, and laws. In this article, the authors narrow the focus of "A Nation at Risk" to consider a…

For decades, the supply of qualified special educators has been critically low. In 1983, the shortage of special educators was highlighted in "A Nation at Risk," and the situation remains much the same 25 years later. The most recently available data indicate that just 0.86 teachers were prepared for each available position in special…