I’m super proud of the work of this team! (This publication feels extra special given my long history of rejections from AERJ 😆)
SPARC Center@sparccenter.bsky.social · 2mo ago📢The American Educational Research Journal (AERJ) has published the findings from our first year of analysis. The paper explores the composition, distribution, and stability of the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce. Read here: doi.org/10.3102/0002...
📢The American Educational Research Journal (AERJ) has published the findings from our first year of analysis. The paper explores the composition, distribution, and stability of the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce. Read here: doi.org/10.3102/0002...
📅 March 20 | 8:15–9:45 am 📍 Montreux 3 💡 Understanding Special Education Identification and Services with @afgilmour.bsky.social 💥
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...
SPARC Center Scholars Program | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
📢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...
This is an excellent paper and a must read for those concerned about turnover in schools!
Aaron Ainsworth@ajainsworth.bsky.social · 8mo agoI’m really glad to see that our paper is now out at Ed Researcher! We examine turnover among the half of school employees who are not teachers to understand how their turnover compares. Using Oregon data (2007-23) for all public school employees, there are 3 new patterns that we document: A 🧵
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!
CALDER Center@caldercenter.bsky.social · 9mo ago📢 Registration for #CALDER2026 is now open! Join us on Monday, March 2 in Arlington, VA for a one-day conference featuring research from CALDER experts & discussion between researchers, policymakers & practitioners. Register ➡️ caldercenter.org/events/17th-... @cedr.bsky.social
💡“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...
Inside One State's Bold Plan to Keep Special Education Teachers
Pennsylvania's training and mentoring program works to retain teachers serving students with disabilities.
edweek.org
“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.
educationnext.org
IDEA at 50: The landmark federal law ensured access for students with disabilities. Now it’s time to focus on outcomes. bit.ly/44DcDrU
IDEA at 50
The landmark federal law ensured access for students with disabilities. Now it’s time to focus on outcomes.
bit.ly
I love this paper. If you study special education teachers, or support special education teachers, you need to read it!
Liz Bettini@lizbettini.bsky.social · 11mo agoExcited to share a new Project RESPECT paper out today in RASE, defining special educators' working conditions! We often talk about "working conditions" but seldom precisely define them. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Fantastic, thorough, and nuanced analysis of IDEA at 50, by @afgilmour.bsky.social 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.
educationnext.org
🔍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...
The Composition, Distribution, and Stability of the Special Education Teacher Workforce in Seven States | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
This is such a fun resource! You can play with the data and examine trends within and across states
SPARC Center@sparccenter.bsky.social · 11mo agoDid you know recruitment and retention of #SpecialEducation teachers varies widely by school contexts, including by poverty level, enrollment demographics, and location? 🔎Explore more with our data visualizer: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
💡“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.
Education Week@edweek.org · 11mo agoSchools Have the Special Educators—But Keep Losing Them to General Ed.: A study across seven states finds educators for students with disabilities need more targeted support.
"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...
States face different special education staffing challenges that require targeted responses | Brookings
Special education teacher turnover varies by state, calling for targeted, locally informed policy solutions.
brookings.edu
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!
SPARC Center@sparccenter.bsky.social · 11mo ago"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...
"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...
SPARC Data Explorer | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
⭐Resource #2: Eight SPARC Fact Sheets with state-specific summaries: sparccenter.org/resources/sp...
Special Education Teacher Workforce Across Seven States: Key Insights from the SPARC Center's Multi-State Analysis | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
⭐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!
SPARC Center@sparccenter.bsky.social · 12mo ago📢 NEW RESEARCH ALERT! The SPARC Center is excited to share THREE new resources with our findings from our first year of research on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce. Explore the resources in this thread, or visit our website to learn more: sparccenter.org
@afgilmour.bsky.social addresses a major barrier in this line of research: figuring out who special education teachers are from the data.
Esther Lindström@estherlindstrom.bsky.social · last yr.Last day of #SREE2025! Looking forward to @afgilmour.bsky.social & @michellecumming.bsky.social talking teacher workforce.
🎓 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/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
Looking forward to hearing more from my @SPARC_Center collaborators- we’ve learned a lot in a year that can help inform policymakers & practitioners!
AEFP@aefpweb.bsky.social · last yr.Join the AEFP Policymakers & Practitioners Community Group for an interactive forum on Teacher Shortages & Vacancies in K-12 schools TODAY, from 1-2 EDT! Register today aefpweb.org/ev_calen...
Excited to share a new publication with co-author Tiffany Lam- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Dual-Certification in Special Education and General Education. Read the full paper here- journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
