Students with special needs deserve well-prepared, dedicated teachers in order to ensure that they receive a quality education. But, did you know that 47 states are currently experiencing a shortage of special education teachers? With a growing need and a dwindling workforce, it’s never been a better time to pursue a career as a special education teacher.
Causes of the Current Teacher Shortage
The current shortage of special education teachers can’t be pinned on a single factor; it can be traced back to numerous issues facing the field. Some commonly cited causes of the shortage include licensed special education teachers leaving the field due to challenging working conditions, a lack of financial aid and other funding to draw in graduate students, professionals’ preference for working in urban school districts rather than rural districts, and more. While many factors can be assigned a share of the blame, one thing is certain: the majority of US states have openings for special education teachers.
Solving the Crisis
While the current shortage is a major cause for concern, one silver lining is that there are a growing number of opportunities for aspiring teachers interested in special education. That’s why we put together a guide to the best colleges for studying special education in states with teacher shortages, which focuses on 15 schools making a difference in states with extreme shortages.
How did we determine the 15 colleges on our list? First, we examined the number of disciplines and grade levels experiencing special education teacher shortages in each state, and focused on the 15 states experiencing the most severe shortages.
Next, we used data from the National Center for Education Statistics to determine which school from each of the 15 states produces the most graduates in special education each year. As a result, our guide highlights states with the biggest need for teachers and the colleges that have stepped up to fill the void. If you or someone you know is interested in teaching special education, this is a great place to begin your research.
Check out the list!
Have an insight or opinion on the current special education teacher shortage? Let us know in the comments section!
Leave a Reply