In this study, using Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) personnel data from 2006 to 2014, we identified seven states with consistently low shortages of highly qualified special education teachers and seven states with persistently high shortages. We employed Guarino et al.'s framework to guide our assumptions and selection of demographic,…

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…

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…

Since 1988, researchers have monitored the extent and severity of the chronic special education (SE) faculty shortage. The present study sought to add to this knowledge base by (a) gathering data on the supply and demand of leadership personnel in SE since the "2001 Faculty Shortage Study"; (b) combining and comparing these data with other sources…

The roles and obligations of teacher educators have expanded substantially in recent years. Expectations have increased because of national concerns about the overall achievement results of all students and because of specific federal mandates--expressed in reauthorizations of the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals With Disabilities…

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…

This paper addresses the national quantity demand, supply, and shortage of special education teachers (SETs) in comparison to general education teachers (GETs). The main data source was the 1999-00 Schools and Staffing Survey. Results indicated that the total demand for SETs increased 38% from 240,000 in 1987-88 to 330,000 in 1999-00, a rate of…

The article reviews studies of past and current market conditions in special education to identify some of the basic underlying economic reasons for those market conditions. The consequences of the market forces on the quality of education, both positive and negative, are examined. (Author/CL)

A survey of university special education department chairpersons suggests there may soon be a lack of doctoral-level faculty members to train future special education personnel. Charts give information on estimated teacher supply and demand to 1992, special education faculty salaries, yearly supplemental income, types of degree by rank, and age…

This introduction to the journal's topical issue on supply and demand in special education personnel preparation notes methodological issues in assessing supply and demand, definitional issues, and the importance of accurate determination of supply and demand needs in special education. (DB)

Based on a sample of 46,599 public school teachers, a study investigated the certification status of both special and general education teachers. Results indicated a chronic annual shortage of about 29,000 fully certified teachers in special education, a level that was almost twice the number in general education. (Author/CR)

This paper provides data on supply and demand for special education teachers from a national probability sample of 46,599 public school teachers from the 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey. In comparison with general education, there was a greater percentage demand in special education, and special education filled a higher percentage of open…

This study of special education faculty needs at institutions of higher education for the periods 1984-88 and 1989-94 found that many positions were filled by individuals already in higher education or previously employed in state or local education agencies. Results suggest that a substantial number of future applicants may also come from these…

This discussion of personnel supply/demand issues in special education notes the interlocking of personnel quality with personnel quantity, suggests that many complications in personnel supply/demand are of recent origin, and recommends that supply/demand imbalances be studied and cooperatively addressed at the local level. (Author/DB)