In the United States, teacher shortages in high-needs fields such as special education have considerable negative impacts on the academic and functional achievement of students with disabilities. Furthermore, strategies such as the employment of undercertified teachers to serve as teachers of record and fill vacant positions raise questions about…

The primary purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate whether special education and general education teacher perceptions of collaboration, leadership, and efficacy beliefs influenced student performance on STAAR. Quantitative data were collected using a Qualtrics survey consisting of 56 items regarding special education and general…

The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between teacher efficacy and enthusiasm using a mixed methods approach. Efficacy as a construct was explored, along with understanding both the positive and negative drivers of that construct. The research was conducted to understand the following: the reliability and construct validity…

The problem addressed by this study was the high rates of burnout experienced by special education teachers. Teacher burnout is seen as a problem for districts, schools, and students with disabilities. The purpose of this qualitative explanatory case study was to explore the perceptions of special education teachers in New York State regarding the…

The special education teacher shortage in the U.S. continues to grow and the implication of this shortage is multifaceted. First and foremost, students that are eligible for special education may not be receiving the educational supports and services that they deserve and legally require. Additionally, this shortage may cause great financial…

This dissertation explores teacher and paraeducator training with a specific focus on generalization of training outcomes and social validity. Chapter 1 presents brief background information to introduce the research questions posed in Chapters 2, 3, and 4. Chapter 2 presents a systematic literature review of educator training studies that…

The high school (HS) graduation rate of students with disabilities who have individual education programs (IEP) is historically low compared with their non-disabled peers. The problem was that a statewide initiative to improve the standard HS diploma graduation rate of students with disabilities, the April Dunn Act (the Act), was perceived as…

The problem explored in the study was that elementary and middle school special education teachers in the southeastern United States were not using positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) strategies with their students with disabilities (SWDs), even though the framework had been implemented at their schools. Perceptions of elementary…

This quantitative correlational predictive study aimed to determine if and to what extent the factors of resiliency and effectiveness significantly predicted retention based on commitment of veteran special education teachers from public school districts in the Southeastern United States. The theoretical framework of teacher resilience defined and…

Enrollment in traditional special education teacher preparation programs has declined while enrollment in alternative preparation programs has increased in Georgia (Georgia Insights, 2024). Since alternative preparation programs have become the viable recruitment vein for rural schools challenged to fill special education teaching vacancies,…

This dissertation explores the phenomenon of burnout among teachers of special education students in rural schools, focusing on understanding the factors that contribute to burnout and the strategies that can mitigate its effects. The study used a qualitative research design to interview teachers from a rural Board of Cooperative Educational…

The purpose of the following study was to determine the relationship between burnout, compassion satisfaction, and empathy for elementary-level special education teachers. Compassion satisfaction and empathy are considered resources that are necessary for teachers in appropriately performing their job tasks. Along with job tasks, there are…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the attitudes of general education and special education teachers towards inclusion in a Suburban school district in the Midwest. With the increase in the number of students who are qualifying for special education coupled with the special education staff shortage, there is a need to examine…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate how general and special educators' attitudes, efficacy, and collaboration promote co-teaching relationships that benefit exceptional students in urban middle schools. The impacts of co-teaching on the attitudes, efficacy, and collaboration of secondary teachers were explored. A…

This quantitative methods study aimed to explore the perceptions of the general and special education teachers' knowledge and beliefs about dyslexia. Also, this study investigated the differences between general and special education teachers' perceptions of knowledge and beliefs about dyslexia with their education level and special education…