What is most important for special education teachers?

We all know the problem. Special education teachers are appallingly in short supply and getting worse. Even before the pandemic, 98% of school districts and 49 states were reporting shortfalls, and a recent RAND report found that six months after the pandemic, his three-thirds of school leaders More than 1 in 2018 experienced special education teacher vacancies.

Compounding the problem is the projected sharp increase in the number of students receiving special education services. This is because students whose assessments are overdue will seek help, and students who have fallen behind due to COVID will need additional assessments and revised services. Rising diagnoses, especially among children diagnosed with autism, are also having an impact. Today, 1 in 44 children in the United States has autism, and autistic students are They represent 11% of all students in education, more than double what they were ten years ago.

The Special Education Legislative Summit Council of Special Education Administrators called for a “mobility of all forces” to address the shortage. The summit speaker highlighted her three key areas that need to be addressed. Competitive salaries, stronger recruiting, and more effective professional development. But what does effective PD look like for special educators? Is it different from what other teachers need? what works? what kind? ikura? And, most importantly, what type of her PD will support these educators and keep them from leaving the profession?

We now know a great deal about which types of PD can not only support special education teachers but also help them grow. This New Era of Inclusive Education — A Positive Development — , we still need to focus on supporting special educators. We need a PD that helps us understand more about It also helps them achieve success in what matters most to them. student. Specifically, we need professional, ongoing, and flexible learning opportunities that are embedded in the classroom.

Classroom built-in PD

Special educators report having good training experiences outside of the classroom, but also say there is a major disconnect when it comes time to implement this new knowledge in the classroom. , lacking practical strategies for implementing them in everyday classes.

Stages Learning CEO and President Angela Nelson said:

Angela Nelson has over 25 years of professional experience in autism education, educational publishing and educational technology. She creates tools to increase global and equitable access to quality autism education and opportunities for talented individuals to thrive and make a lasting positive impact in diverse and creative environments. She is her CEO and President of Stages Learning.

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