Working in Special Education: Factors that Enhance Special Educators' Intent to Stay

2001 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 549-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Gersten ◽  
Thomas Keating ◽  
Paul Yovanoff ◽  
Mark K. Harniss
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Attrition ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Intent To Stay ◽  
Job Design ◽  
Urban School Districts ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Special Education Teacher Attrition

This article presents findings from a study of factors that lead to special education teacher attrition and retention involving 887 special educators in three large urban school districts. We focus on a path analysis of the relationship between intent to stay in the field and factors such as job satisfaction, commitment to special education teaching, and various aspects of job design. Findings suggest several critical factors to consider in order to increase retention and commitment. A leading negative factor was stress due to job design. Perceived support by principals or other teachers in the school helped alleviate this stress. Another key factor was the sense that special educators were learning on the job, either formally or informally, through collegial networks.

Developing a Theory of Program Vision as Professional Socialization in Special Education Teacher Preparation

2021 ◽  
pp. 088840642110589
Author(s):  
Hannah Morris Mathews
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
General Education ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Professional Socialization ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Teacher Preparation Programs ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Education Teacher ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities

In general education, researchers find candidates’ pre-service experiences are a tool for socialization into the knowledge, norms, and values of the profession. An important aspect of this process is program vision—the collective understanding of teaching put forth by a preparation program. Yet, few investigations in special education examine program vision. Using interviews with candidates across six teacher preparation programs, the author generates theory to understand the role of vision in special education teacher candidates’ professional socialization and how experiences of program vision are associated with their conceptions of their future roles and responsibilities. Candidates’ conception of special educators’ roles reflected three characterizations consistent within, but distinct across programs: Direct Instructor, Supportive Differentiator, and General Responder. Each profile was associated with unique roles and responsibilities for special educators. Findings draw attention to the importance of examining vision as a tool for professional socialization in special education teacher preparation.

The Effects of Secondary Special Education Preparation in Reading: Research to Inform State Policy in a New Era

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly M. Knackstedt ◽  
Melinda M. Leko ◽  
Molly Baustien Siuty
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Teaching Reading ◽  
New Era ◽  
State Education ◽  
Two Factors

In this study, the authors present findings from a survey of 577 secondary special educators in a large Midwestern state regarding their reading pre-service and in-service teacher preparation and its effect on teachers’ sense of preparedness for teaching reading to adolescents with disabilities. Six models were fitted using multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results demonstrate the importance of two factors in preparing special educators who have a high sense of preparedness for teaching reading to adolescents with disabilities. The first is pre-service coursework that uses practice-based pedagogical approaches as opposed to passive lecture and the second is more extensive in-service professional development. The results are discussed in light of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and its delegation of teacher preparation policy to state education agencies. Implications for future research and policy in special education teacher preparation are provided.

Critical Look At The Contributions Of A Special Educator In Co-teaching Settings In A us Secondary School: A Case-study

2021 ◽  
pp. 41-53
Author(s):  
Bharti Tandon
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Supportive Role ◽  
Diverse Student ◽  
Field Notes

Co-teaching occurs between two or more professionals who are actively involved in providing substantive instruction in a shared physical space to a diverse student population in inclusive settings. It is often compared to "professional marriage." Research has established various benefits o f co-teaching for children with and without disabilities, both socially and academically. In addition, co-teaching provides opportunities for general and special educators to collaborate and learn from each other's expertise. However, most o f the time special education teachers adopt a supportive role in co-teaching rather than one of equal professional status, thus highlighting the limited contributions of special educators in the instructional partnership. The focus o f the study was on the contributions and the roles of the special education teachers in co-teaching in content areas. Data sources were interviews; observations; artefacts and field notes. The characteristic of this high performing team, and the way their relationship evolved confirmed many o f factors that have been identified as contributing to successful co-teaching. The special education teacher contributed both in planning and in teaching biology; in addition to a supportive role, he also took a lead role in teaching, thus; providing meaningful learning experiences to both students with and without disabilities.

Special Education Teacher Attrition and Retention: A Review of the Literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 697-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie Billingsley ◽  
Elizabeth Bettini
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Teacher Attrition ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Teacher Shortages

High rates of attrition make it challenging for schools to provide qualified special education teachers for students with disabilities, especially given chronic teacher shortages. We synthesize 30 studies from 2002 to 2017, examining factors associated with special educator attrition and retention, including (a) teacher preparation and qualifications, (b) school characteristics, (c) working conditions, and (d) teacher demographic and nonwork factors. Most studies examined working conditions (e.g., demands, administrative and collegial supports, resources, compensation) among special educators who left teaching, moved to other positions, transferred to general education teaching, or indicated that they intended to stay or leave. The majority of researchers used quantitative methods to analyze national, state, or other survey data, while eight used qualitative methods. Our critique identifies both strengths and weaknesses of this literature, suggests research priorities, and outlines specific implications for policy makers and leaders.

Special Education Attrition in the State of Utah: Rural vs. Urban School Districts

2007 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Anne Prater ◽  
Temma Harris ◽  
Lane Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
School Districts ◽  
School Psychologists ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Urban School Districts ◽  
State Office ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Education Personnel ◽  
Special Education Personnel

Critical shortages of special educators in the U.S. are not new. Approximately 1.1% of all U.S. special education positions have remained unfilled for the last five years (Boe, 2006). The authors were commissioned by the Utah State Office of Education to collect data on special education personnel, including special education teachers, school psychologists and speech language pathologists. This study compared all Utah rural and urban special education personnel who left their districts during the combined school years of 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Results reveal that rural special education personnel left their positions at a significantly lower rate than is to be expected. Similarities and differences among special education leavers in rural and urban districts as well as their reasons for leaving are discussed.

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