In the nation there are four or five million children who have educational needs so unusual that they require special help from the schools. Such children include those with physical handicaps, mental retardation, serious social or emotional problems, or giftedness. Progress is being made in providing for these children, but educational provisions are far from adequate. Educational programs are being extended or developed by State and local school systems, but in this expansion, the crucial need is for larger numbers of well-qualified teachers. This publication results from the cooperative efforts of many leading special educations in the Nation, in the hope of forming a basis for guidelines for future improvements. The document describes the scope of the publication, collection of information, participants, and issues from difference points of view, and considers: (1) competencies needed by teachers; (2) opinions on adequacy of professional preparation, including specialized teacher competencies, practical experiences in professional preparation, and administrative considerations in college programs; (3) qualifications of college staff members, such as competencies for college staff members as identified by a committee, the competency committee and its report, and professional preparation and experiences for college staff members; (4) in-service education; and (5) summary and implications. Appended are: (1) The plan and procedures used in the Office of Education Study, "Qualification and Preparation of Teachers of Exceptional Children"; (2) Information about the special educators participating in the study; (3) Statistical procedures and results; and (4) Excerpts from inquiry forms. (Contains 25 footnotes, 8 tables, and 11 graphs.) [Best copy available has been provided.]