Examining the Supply of New Special Educators: Variations by Institutional Characteristics and For-Profit Status
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| Title: | Examining the Supply of New Special Educators: Variations by Institutional Characteristics and For-Profit Status |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Tuan D. Nguyen (ORCID |
| Source: | Remedial and Special Education. 2025 46(6):456-467. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Special Education Teachers, Teacher Shortage, Institutional Characteristics, Small Colleges, For Profit Colleges, Trend Analysis, Teacher Education Programs, Educational Legislation, Federal Legislation, Higher Education |
| Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: | Higher Education Act Title II |
| DOI: | 10.1177/07419325241270044 |
| ISSN: | 0741-9325 1538-4756 |
| Abstract: | U.S. schools have long experienced shortages of special education teachers (SETs), challenging the nation's capacity to ensure qualified SETs for students eligible for special education services. Addressing SET shortages requires preparation programs to supply sufficient numbers of new SETs to meet demand, yet prior research provides few insights into trends in the supply of new SETs. Thus, we examined how the supply of new SETs changed over time in relation to the characteristics of teacher preparation programs. We find a decreasing supply of new SETs nationally, primarily driven by a reduced supply of new SETs from small colleges. Results suggest the current SET shortage may be connected, in previously undocumented ways, to the broader decline of small- and mid-sized colleges. Finally, findings indicate the nation may be far more dependent on for-profit institutions for supplying new SETs, which has implications for the production of SETs by alternative certification and traditional teacher preparation programs. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1491983 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | U.S. schools have long experienced shortages of special education teachers (SETs), challenging the nation's capacity to ensure qualified SETs for students eligible for special education services. Addressing SET shortages requires preparation programs to supply sufficient numbers of new SETs to meet demand, yet prior research provides few insights into trends in the supply of new SETs. Thus, we examined how the supply of new SETs changed over time in relation to the characteristics of teacher preparation programs. We find a decreasing supply of new SETs nationally, primarily driven by a reduced supply of new SETs from small colleges. Results suggest the current SET shortage may be connected, in previously undocumented ways, to the broader decline of small- and mid-sized colleges. Finally, findings indicate the nation may be far more dependent on for-profit institutions for supplying new SETs, which has implications for the production of SETs by alternative certification and traditional teacher preparation programs. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0741-9325 1538-4756 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/07419325241270044 |
