The first article in this special issue is about the doctoral programs, the suppliers of new doctoral graduates in special education. It focuses on one component of a larger effort, the Special Education Faculty Needs Assessment (SEFNA) project, which investigated many aspects of the supply of new doctoral graduates as well as the demand for new…

For over 25 years, independent researchers have warned of an impending shortage of the special education (SE) faculty who staff the nation's institutions of higher education (IHEs). "The 2001 Faculty Shortage Study" (Smith, Pion, Tyler, Sindelar, & Rosenberg, 2001), which documented the imbalance between the supply of and demand for SE leadership…

Understanding the context of the demand for special education (SE) teacher education (TE) faculty is important because it can provide faculty at doctoral-granting universities with useful information for program planning. Knowing more about SE teacher preparation programs currently in place and program revisions being planned allows doctoral…

As the field of special education (SE) examines issues related to supply and demand of SE teachers and faculty, an investigation of students currently enrolled in doctoral programs and doctoral graduates is an important perspective to consider. The results of two components of the "Special Education Faculty Needs Assessment" (SEFNA), focused on…

The importance of the federal role in the preparation of doctoral-level personnel is well acknowledged. It helps to produce future leaders in critical areas and is a key component of the nation's economic security, its prestige around the world, and its leading position in research and innovation across all areas. Through a number of agencies, the…

Since 1959 the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has held annual competitions to award leadership (doctoral preparation) projects to universities to support doctoral students pursuing careers in special education or in a related service. OSEP's leadership preparation projects are four years in duration and offer a one- or two-year…

Three studies are described in this article. Each is focused on a different aspect of the long-standing initiative that supports special education doctoral students. This initiative is one of the discretionary programs of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act that is managed by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of…

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is the primary source of federal support for preparing researchers and teacher educators whose focus is students with disabilities. The OSEP Leadership Training Grant Program awards projects to more universities than any other federal agency, but to do so it provides smaller awards to universities…

Analysis of 188 returned questionnaires from graduates of doctoral special education programs from 1989 through 1991 found that 58% took jobs in institutions of higher education, though only 37% accepted positions as tenure-track faculty members. Career goals remained constant from program admission to graduation. (Author/DB)

After a systematic national search, 86 special education doctoral programs were found to be active in 1999. Program administrators were surveyed and results indicate most special education doctoral programs are under enrolled, doctoral students' enrollment has declined 30% over the last 20 years, and programs are not highly selective. (Contains…

A survey of 1,267 doctoral students found their primary consideration in selecting a doctoral program was not having to relocate. Students were fairly satisfied with the training they received in research skills, less so in areas of college teaching, administration/supervision, and diversity. Less than half were interested in faculty positions.…

This paper traces the history of leadership training in the field of special education as a context for a projection of future leadership personnel needs. The current situation in supply and demand for special education leadership personnel is analyzed, and it is found that the number of available personnel is dwindling while the number of job…

This study sought to update and expand the existing databases relating to the supply and demand of special education leadership personnel through a survey of 55 institutions of higher education (IHEs) having doctoral programs in special education. Results are analyzed in terms of doctoral enrollments for the 1990-91 academic year, specialty areas,…