Special educators are increasingly drawing from intersectionality and Black feminist theory to make sense of the disproportionate deleterious outcomes experienced by racialized students labeled with disabilities. While intersectionality gains a stronger hold in special education discourse, agencies like the Florida Department of Education are…

Traditional teacher-led Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) typically provide limited opportunities for students receiving special education services to meaningfully participate in the process. Even with a significant body of literature supporting the benefits of student-led IEPs, many school-based personnel maintain the traditional…

While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education across the globe, special needs schools in middle- and low-income countries were particularly affected. Learners in these contexts often did not have access to assistive technologies and individualised adaptations of materials in their home environment. This study aimed to explore the experiences of…

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…

The instruments for the evaluation of teachers' digital competence are abundant, however, there is still a lack of instruments oriented to the context of Special Education. In this sense, this study presents the validation process of an instrument that aims to determine the level of knowledge and digital competence of Special Education teachers…

According to the OECD definition of innovative learning environments (ILEs), inclusion is considered a pillar of its design. The depiction of an inclusive ILE from the OECD outlines the importance of including students in ILEs. We wish to argue, however, that the successful implementation of inclusion also needs to address the location of special…

Families are critical to children's learning and play a vital role on their children's team. As such, preparation standards across the Division for Early Childhood, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and other key entities include family practices as part of their recommendations. This content analysis examined how states…

Little is known about the quality of the special educators who move schools, switch to general education, or leave teaching. In this study, the author examined if turnover (moving schools within a district, moving schools between districts, switching to general education, or leaving teaching in the state) was associated with two common indicators…

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of special education professionals in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden in light of educational policies and reforms. The study places emphasis on (a) the policy context of inclusion and special needs education, (b) the formal qualifications required of special education professionals, and (c)…

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,…

Students with extensive support needs (ESN), most of whom are taught in separate settings by special educators without extensive academic preparation, have difficulty making progress in the general education curriculum. Although there is evidence that data-based decision-making improves achievement for a wide range of students, there is little…

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…

Background/Context: Staff turnover is a critical issue for practitioners and policymakers alike. Especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, significant attention has been dedicated to developing policy interventions to address high staff shortages. Intervention around staffing instability may be particularly pertinent for special…

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…