Across the United States, school leaders and administrators are confronted with widespread shortages of special educators--a challenge that may feel insurmountable at times. Shortages of special educators mean open teaching positions go unfilled or are filled by personnel who may lack the preparation and certification known to lead to positive…

Federal mandates require special education teachers to implement evidence-based practices (EBPs) to support student learning to the extent practical. There are 28 identified EBPs specifically designed for teaching students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Preparing special education teachers to implement EBPs with fidelity remains a challenge.…

Approximately 11% of Michigan's roughly 199,620 elementary and secondary students are eligible for special education under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students with disabilities placed in a self-contained classroom by an individualized education program (IEP) committee are usually those in need of the most intense programs…

Federal mandates require special education teachers to use instructional practices grounded in scientific research. Accordingly, the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC) identified 27 evidence-based practices specific to teaching students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; Wong et al., 2014). Though these…

The number of students with disabilities educated in general education classrooms is increasing due to legislative mandates and the appreciation for the importance and positive impact of inclusion for all students (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2019). In order to provide meaningful services to students…

The objective of this article is to examine the degree to which different U.S. states have a special education teaching workforce that is racially/ethnically representative of students with disabilities in their state. Using the Teacher-Student Parity Index (TSPI), a standardized metric for comparing representation across states with different…

Examination of district-level special education leaders' practice reveals strategic actions utilized as they constructed equitable, inclusive learning opportunities as a means to advocate for all learners. Analysis shows that the following strategic actions shaped the ways participants led the inclusive special education services in their…

The purpose of this study was to determine which states have policies about caseloads in special education and to examine the differences between those policies. Specifically, which states have policies about caseloads in special education? What are the specific details outlined by the policies? After examining the policies for each state and…

This study examined data from full- and part-time public school teachers who completed the Schools and Staffing Survey: Teacher Questionnaire (SASS TQ) and reported the number of threats and physical attacks occurring within 12 months. "T" tests were used to identify statistically significant differences between special education…

Special education administrators at both the district and school level are serving in critical roles that uniquely position them to improve academic and behavioral outcomes of students with disabilities by ensuring the special education teachers under their supervision are prepared to deliver an evidence-based form of intensive…

This investigation used a qualitative case study to examine the sources of teacher stress and the ways teachers try to alleviate stress. Three research questions guided this study: (1) What are recent sources of stress for special education teachers in various school settings and grade levels? (2) How does stress impact special education teachers?…

The use of classroom observations within teacher evaluation systems is a national practice, but little research is available on the observation and evaluation of special educators' teaching. This study examined the perspectives of three school administrators, who did not have a background in special education, but had experience observing and…

The implementation of multitiered systems of support to address students' academic and behavioral needs in schools has proven beneficial. That is, academic interventions implemented at tiers one and two under response-to-intervention frameworks have helped to boost the achievement of struggling students in the primary grades. Likewise, school-wide…

Students on the autism spectrum who complete a regular high school diploma are a growing population; little is known about how these students are currently supported. A large sample of special education administrators, special education and general education teachers, and related school personnel completed an online survey that documented levels…

School administrators are responsible for classroom teacher observations and annual evaluations. As emphasis on student achievement and teacher effectiveness intensifies, school administrators must be able to differentiate between effective and ineffective special educators and the use of evidence based versus nonevidence based teaching practices…