Very cool opportunity for early career researchers interested in special education research:
Apply for access to at least one statewide longitudinal dataset with support from SPARC researchers to conduct a co-developed study on the special education workforce. sparccenter.org/sparc-center...
📢Just launched: the SPARC Center Scholars Program! This program aims to support early career scholars in conducting rigorous research on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce. Learn more and apply by May 1:
sparccenter.org/sparc-center...
So happy to see this paper out!
This is an excellent paper and a must read for those concerned about turnover in schools!
I'm excited to be presenting work funded by @sparccenter.bsky.social and co-authored with @lizbettini.bsky.social and @afgilmour.bsky.social at the CALDER Conference in early March! Registration details below!
💡“The unique thing about Pennsylvania is they decided to do as many things as they can at once, addressing each part of the [special education teacher] pipeline.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social
Read how Pennsylvania supports its #SpecialEducation workforce: www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
“Delivering effective #SpecialEducation involves collecting data, monitoring progress, and making instructional changes when progress stalls or falters.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social
Alli’s recent article in Education Next reflects on 50 years of #IDEA: www.educationnext.org/idea-at-50-l...
IDEA at 50: The landmark federal law ensured access for students with disabilities. Now it’s time to focus on outcomes. bit.ly/44DcDrU
Can we please stop having conferences on Saturday?
I love this paper. If you study special education teachers, or support special education teachers, you need to read it!
Fantastic, thorough, and nuanced analysis of IDEA at 50, by @afgilmour.bsky.social
www.educationnext.org/idea-at-50-l...
Thanks, Liz!
🔍Our new Working Paper uses consistent variables across states. Leveraging Common Education Data Standards and Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems enables meaningful cross-state comparisons of the #SpecialEducation Teacher workforce.
Read more: sparccenter.org/research-fin...
This is such a fun resource! You can play with the data and examine trends within and across states
💡“Our shortages aren’t really from not having enough people; it’s having people teaching the wrong thing.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social
Check out this article from Education Week which features research from our recent working paper on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.
"As we have demonstrated, different states face different #SpecialEducation teacher turnover problems. This suggests that the most promising solutions might vary across states."
Read more about our recent findings in our article with @brookings.edu: www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...
So much important information in this graph!!
Really excited to have this piece out on the Brown Center Chalkboard blog with @lmasonwms.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, & @lizbettini.bsky.social on the importance of targeted solutions to special education teacher staffing challenges. See below!
"Varying patterns across states...suggest the need for policy responses targeted to state & local needs."
Check out recent @sparccenter.bsky.social findings, @lmasonwms.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, @roddy-theobald.bsky.social
www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...
⭐Resource #3: An interactive dashboard exploring the key dimensions of the special education teacher workforce across all our partner states: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
⭐Resource #2: Eight SPARC Fact Sheets with state-specific summaries: sparccenter.org/resources/sp...
⭐Resource #1: A Working Paper with details of our cross-state analysis of the special education teacher workforce: sparccenter.org/research-fin...
It has been such a privilege to conduct this research with such a great team. Check out our first year’s work!
ICYMI!
@afgilmour.bsky.social addresses a major barrier in this line of research: figuring out who special education teachers are from the data.
🎓 Is having a dual-certification in #SpecialEducation and general education better than having one certification? SPARC Center co-director @afgilmour.bsky.social and Tiffany Lam reviewed the research to learn more on this topic: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Looking forward to hearing more from my @SPARC_Center collaborators- we’ve learned a lot in a year that can help inform policymakers & practitioners!
The paper outlines more areas for future research and guidance for policymakers and practitioners. We are very grateful for the support from Spencer Foundation for this work!
TPPs also need to be clear about the goals of their programs. In some studies, there was a conflict between the goals of programs and the positions graduates took. Are they to prepare special educators with GE content knowledge? Are they to prepare SPED or GE teachers for inclusive settings?
High rates of mobility are often not good- but in this case, it could benefit SWDs to have a GE teacher with some SPED training and experience. This is an important area for future research, but policymakers should weigh the risk of increased mobility.
