In West Virginia, an alternative special education program allows students with bachelor's degrees in fields other than education to become teachers of exceptional children. This program provides a route to certification in mental retardation, specific learning disabilities, or behavior disorders, as well as to a master's degree in special…

This paper focuses on possible solutions to the problem of special education personnel recruitment and retention. Options for increasing the supply of direct service personnel include: augment salaries and benefits for educational personnel; facilitate improved working conditions and status for personnel involved in direct service; train…

Deans of schools of education (N=249) answered a survey probing current resources, plans for expansion, incentives needed for expanding personnel resources, and barriers to program development in special education programs covering the needs of infants and toddlers. Almost half reported no special education program at any level, but 40% reported…

The study compared perceptions of high school and college faculty regarding the characteristics and preparatory needs of secondary learning disabled (LD) students. The analysis was based on a survey of 288 high school teachers (246 regular and 42 special education) and 82 college teachers. Separate factor analyses identified three academic factors…

This module is designed to familiarize students preparing to be special education teachers with the physical needs of the exceptional student. Information is given on how to structure an adaptive physical education program designed to meet those needs, including development of an individualized education program (IEP). The module covers such…

Average salary increases for 1,223 faculty in the field of special education are reported for 1983-1984 and 1986-1987, as part of the College and University Personnel Association's annual faculty salary studies. Included are comparative data for 120,580 faculty at 167 public colleges and 235 private colleges, representing 44 academic disciplines.…

This document is a monograph in a personnel development series addressing issues that are pertinent for policy-making personnel concerned with preservice personnel preparation of vocational/special educators. Section 1 presents a review of the selected literature related to the development of personnel preparation programs and the results of a…

This final report describes activities and achievements of a 3-year project using a public school and university partnership structure to jointly recruit, select, train, certify, and retain special educators in a high poverty rural service region of Northeastern California. Emphasis was on improvement of educational services for pupils with high…

This study surveyed 106 student teachers/interns to determine (1) whether they possessed theoretical beliefs about second language learning and teaching that reflected the methodological divisions of skill-based, rule-based, and function-based approaches toward teaching English as a Second Language (ESL); (2) the extent to which their…

Assistive technology is equipment that improves the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Using assistive technology, children discover they have control over their environment and develop a sense of competence and independence. As special education enrollments increase, more students are using assistive technology, but many…

San Diego State University (California) has developed a coach-of-coaches model of providing support, assistance, and supervision to intern-teachers in its rural special education alternative credential program. Coaches, who are fully credentialed teachers with supervisory skills, make a minimum of nine direct and indirect (video analysis)…

This article reviews research on the shortage of African Americans in university special education faculties, identifying problems in the faculty development system and possible solutions. Suggestions focus on improving available financial support, mentoring, and developing opportunities for creative research and writing, in order to recruit,…

Addresses the needs of beginning special education teachers in small, rural school districts; describes strategies for recruiting special education teachers in rural areas; describes programs that small and rural school districts can use to orient new teachers to the school and community; and identifies strategies for retaining teachers in rural…

Identifies issues in educating students with disabilities who enter postsecondary programs intending to teach individuals with disabilities. The article discusses legal issues guaranteeing equal educational access, questions assumptions about teacher preparation, and mentions contributions to educational quality made by people with disabilities.…

This feature article examines changes needed in special education personnel preparation (such as increasing the supply of qualified personnel). Strategies for meeting these needs are discussed, including methods of using best practices and innovative training methods. An Outcomes-Based Teacher Education model (with proposed knowledge and skill…