Research indicates that parents who are involved in their children's schools support their children's learning at home, and engage more frequently with their children's teachers (Reinke et al., 2019). In contrast, lower levels of parental involvement are associated with adverse behaviors at school, less social interactions, and lower academic…

Education equality and the inclusion of students with disabilities have been a long-traveled journey. Though there has been an increase in this student population within the general education classroom, research suggests less of students with mild to moderate disabilities are mainstreamed. It is important to understand how any existing barriers…

Paraeducators are integral to the special education setting and work under the supervision of certified teachers. They provide support for students with various special needs and support the teacher in providing specialized instruction to meet these needs. This study sought to address the following research questions: (1) what are special…

The field of early childhood special education faces a significant teacher shortage that is in need of solutions (Bruder, 2010; Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2017). An unaddressed area of examination in resilience research is the role that professional relationships play in enhancing teacher resilience, career longevity, and job…

This dissertation study examined the mechanisms inside and outside of school that propel and disrupt student entry to domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). Specifically, this study focused on punitive and isolating responses from school adults that push certain students away from school success and into mechanisms that lead to DMST, such as the…

The virtual school board (VSB) offers teachers a browser-based platform to support a multilevel, evidence-based educational plan. The present study examines teachers' use of the VSB. Based on technology acceptance model (TAM), 17 teachers from nine schools were interviewed about their use of the VSB. The evaluation was based on qualitative content…

This mixed methods study was designed to examine the factors that experienced special education teachers report as being influential in their decision to remain in the field of special education. The study collected data using surveys and interviews with experienced special education teachers to gather their perspectives and identify common themes…

High rates of special education teacher attrition negatively impact teachers and students. In an effort to address attrition and support new special education teachers, many school districts pair mentor teachers with novice teachers. Effective mentoring programs have been shown to alleviate some of the stresses of novice teaching and reduce the…

In the United States, there exists a chronic shortage of qualified special education teachers to provide instructional services to students with disabilities. One policy solution developed to increase the number of qualified teachers is Alternative Routes (ARs), which are broadly defined as nontraditional and accelerated preparation paths to…

Teachers of students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD Teachers) that work in a self-contained setting are more likely to experience symptoms of burnout than their general education and special education teacher peers. Attrition for this group of teachers continues to be at an all-time high, leading to poor outcomes for some of our…

Graduates of special education teacher education programs can teach in a range of special education settings, raising the potential that their training can occur in very different settings than where they find their first jobs. We follow 263 completers of Moderate Disabilities programs in Massachusetts from their field placements to their…

This study examined the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) profiles of teachers at special education schools for the blind and at general elementary schools in China. A total of 113 teachers in special schools and 193 teachers in general elementary schools were enrolled. A questionnaire was used as a quantitative method of data…

The current study evaluates lessons learned from a feasibility and acceptability trial of the "Think, Be, Do," curriculum (a mental health literacy curriculum) for transition age students (14-21) in special education classrooms. Six teachers and sixty-two students from a northwest state in suburban and rural settings participated in the…

Teachers' training in and knowledge of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)--specific evidence-based practices (EBPs) vary widely. While researchers continue to develop and disseminate evidence-based interventions, the research-to-practice gap between these interventions and implementation within school settings remains an ongoing challenge. This study…

The move to include students with special educational needs (SEN) in mainstream education is one of the priorities of educational reform agendas in many countries. Also in Flanders (Belgium) the government's aim is to implement a more inclusive school system, but this faces some resistance from practitioners. This study examines the way in which…