ABSTRACT
The need to recruit, hire, and keep effective teachers is emphasized in current policies in the United States, including the Race to the Top Act of 2011. Although the importance of qualified teachers to improving student outcomes is widely accepted, there are insufficient numbers of teachers and administrators to meet the demand in the field of special education. Over two decades ago, researchers and professional organizations began to document the chronic and severe shortage of qualified special education teachers (SETs) (e.g., American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 1989; Lauritzen, 1990; Smith-Davis, Burke, & Noel, 1984). The need for special educators was widely recognized in the
• Researchers have demonstrated the importance of qualified and experienced teachers, yet there
are insufficient numbers of teachers and administrators to meet the demand in the field of special
education leading to an increased number of positions vacant or filled by teachers with minimal
preparation.
