A shortage of certified teacher candidates nationwide is especially challenging in the field of special education. U.S. rural school districts are even more impacted due to limited access to universities because of geographical distance. In this program description, we look at the University Louisville's fully online special education alternative…

Many special education teacher preparation programs overlook behavior-based instruction, leaving teachers ill-prepared for students with challenging behaviors. This qualitative study interviewed special education teachers to explore their experiences acquiring behavioral knowledge and managing challenging behaviors. Results highlighted the…

Germany's education system is continually evolving and advancing, especially within special education. The country's history and the laws that have been implemented significantly shape special education as we know it today, yet unresolved issues persist in this field. One notable challenge is the divide between mainstream and special education,…

Even though effective teaching is required when doctoral students assume positions in higher education, few doctoral programs have courses or formalized experiences designed around pedagogy for undergraduate and graduate students. The lack of pedagogical emphasis is especially concerning for newly minted doctoral students who will be preparing…

In this manuscript a review of the prevalence of trauma among students in the United States and its impact on child development and the educational environment is conducted. Case vignettes are used to highlight the impact of trauma present in schools and a framework for implementing trauma-informed care (TIC) in special education is explored. The…

This professional practice dissertation examined the application of Program Transition Points implemented in a K-12 Special Education Initial Licensure Program to ensure effective teacher preparation and successful program completion. Feedback from educational stakeholders, data results from program and internship evaluation outcomes, and the…

Mixed-reality simulation (MRS) is an innovative and promising approach in teacher preparation programs. While the use of MRS as a practice-based learning opportunity (PLO) in special education teacher preparation and professional development continues to grow, integrating this novel technology can be daunting for faculty members and school…

Many general education teachers have indicated they do not feel well prepared to meet the academic and behavioral needs of students with extensive support needs (ESN). Although teachers cite limited training, preparation, and experience as notable barriers to general education placements for students with ESN, the opportunity and success of the…

Although special education legal knowledge is central to educating students with disabilities, how two critical school professionals--special educators and school principals--garner such knowledge is unclear. This study identified gaps in the professional training for special educators and school principals by examining professional standards and…

This critical qualitative inquiry employed a Disability Critical Race Studies Counter-Narrative framework (DCCN) to explore the contrast between educator and Black student understandings of the special education placement process and their implications. Interviews with 21 members of school personnel and 20 Black students between the ages of 14 and…

Significant international attention has been paid to teachers' attitudes and the variables affecting them, as these are considered crucial for successful inclusive education. This article reports on an investigation of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) teachers' attitudes to the inclusion of children with special educational needs (SEN) in…

Public school administrators' tasks include completing special education teacher evaluations and providing critical feedback. The problem is that many principals do not possess sufficient knowledge of special education to be the curriculum and instructional leader to evaluate special education teachers and lack special education courses taken…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how high school special education teachers describe the influence of their training in social-emotional learning (SEL) when working with students with disabilities in their classrooms. The overarching research question was: How do high school special education teachers describe the…

Students with extensive support needs (ESN) benefit from inclusion in general education settings with their same-age peers. Many teachers, however, report feeling overwhelmed and underprepared to effectively educate students with ESN within general education settings. To mitigate this, we must ensure that content related to the instruction and…

With the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the term disability is consolidated in its dynamic meaning as a condition that is defined by the interaction between personal factors and the environment in which one lives (WHO, 2001). The characteristics of the reference context that can be an obstacle or…