This study aims to understand special education teachers' lived experience of encountering Disruptive Classroom Behavior (DCB) among middle school students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) in self-contained classrooms. Employing an interpretative phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight teachers…

The nationwide shortage of special educators is well documented. Preparedness is a key component of building self-efficacy and longevity in the PK-12 teaching field (Clark & Newberry, 2019; Darling-Hammond et al., 2002; Ingersol et al., 2012; Ondrasek et al., 2020). This qualitative study examined the preparedness of novice special education…

The problem that was addressed in this study was that students with severe intellectual disabilities (SwSID) enrolled in life skills settings are not receiving adequate transition planning services at local rural public schools in a southwestern state. The purpose of this study was to investigate special education teachers' (SET) perceptions about…

In this qualitative ethnographic and autoethnographic study, I examined a co-teaching partnership between a general education teacher and special education teacher in an international school. The school inclusion policy, which resulted from a shift in student demographics by admission of students with significant learning needs, supported the…

Postsecondary transition can be difficult for At-Promise Youth Receiving Special Education Services (APYRSES). Special educators supporting postsecondary transition often manifest traditional and institutionalized forms of oppressive education while dismissing collective values and beliefs. This qualitative case study examined the beliefs and…

The problem examined in this study was that special education teachers and speech-language providers have yet to fully understand how they can collaborate to deliver reading comprehension instruction to students with learning disabilities in integrated co-teaching classroom settings. Using a systems-thinking conceptual framework and basic…

There has been a sharp increase in mental health support for children in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a growing demand for school-based mental health services due to gaps in the US youth mental health infrastructure. This dissertation presents an action research study conducted in a Title I middle school in Arizona, exploring a school…

The planning and implementation of effective transition services for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have emerged as crucial aspects of middle school special education. This action research study examines the impact of professional development and collaborative practices on improving transition services for middle school students with…

Burnout, a condition associated with workplace stress, has recently grown in public interest. Educators, particularly special education teachers, are more at-risk for burnout and job turnover than other professions (Agrawal & Marken, 2022; Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2019). Levels of burnout are measured by three different categories…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) require teachers to use evidence-based practices (EBPs) with students with disabilities. Knowledge of EBPs can improve student outcomes and requires training and practice for successful implementation. Teachers have reported a lack of…

This study is an analysis of the five factors identified through the research literature on job satisfaction and special education teachers to identify which factor was the strongest predictor of job satisfaction. The factors identified as predictor variables and examined in this study include: Relationships with Administration, Relationships with…

This study sought to explore the experiences of teachers who are employed in self-contained Emotionally Behaviorally Disturbed (EBD) program that support students with challenging behaviors. The problem investigated was the lack of understanding around the experiences of special education teachers who teach and support students with challenging…

This exploratory research study used quantitative methods to explore patterns of special education teachers' assistive technology knowledge and use. Barriers to assistive technology (AT) use and facilitators that impact assistive technology use were also identified and explored. The following research questions were addressed: 1) what do special…

Special Education administrators face an increasing challenge of retaining their Special Education teachers. 33% of Special Education teachers leave their roles within the first three years and 22.85% quit annually (Dillon, 2007; Boe, Cook, & Sunderland, 2008; Conley & You, 2017). Teachers have cited a shifting legal landscape, paperwork,…

Although treatment integrity is generally viewed as important, its measurement and assessment do not often occur in school settings. The goal of this qualitative research study was to gain insight to multiple stakeholders' perspectives on treatment integrity in school settings. A targeted group of general education teachers, special education…