"...two enduring challenges—staffing shortages and reliance on individual advocacy—reveals the ongoing struggle between policy ideals and implementation realities." www.educationnext.org/idea-at-50-l...

✨What does the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce look like within and across states? Our new interactive data visualizer tool looks at the composition, stability, and distribution of the workforce in our seven partner states. Explore the tool: 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.

Did 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...

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!

So much important information in this graph!!

“Chronic special education teacher shortages leave many students with disabilities without access to the instruction and support they need to meet learning and lifetime goals.” @ted-cec.bsky.social @cec-dr.bsky.social

"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...

@sparccenter.bsky.social co-director @lizbettini.bsky.social challenging @ted-cec.bsky.social members to think critically about the #specialeducation teacher workforce

@SPARC_Center researcher & president of the @ted-cec.bsky.social of @CECMembership LaRon Scott kicking off our annual meeting!

🔍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...

An essential step to building a strong special education workforce is designing policies at all levels that make them want to STAY. www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...

Excited to spread the word!

Such important work- with clear suggestions for how much still needs to be done! I hope a few doc students are paying attention- maybe a dissertation idea or two? @ted-cec.bsky.social

Excited to circulate another @caldercenter.bsky.social WP! Another study from my dissertation, w/ @roddy-theobald.bsky.social‬. Using data from WA, we track individual paraeducators to predict exit from the state education workforce. Ungated WP here: ‬ tinyurl.com/3wtfrm2m 🧵 below:

🎓 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!

Another report released on the shortage of #SpecialEducation teachers. The @SPARC_Center research team works with state leaders to investigate policies contributing to shortages, turnover, & instability. learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/teac...

Prepping to explain to NYS members of Congress & anyone who will listen why we need to pay greater attention to #specialeducation workforce issues @cec-ted-policy.bsky.social @cecmembership.bsky.social @ted-cec.bsky.social

What questions do you have about using state or district data to investigate #SpecialEducation workforce issues?

I’m sure I know a few doc students who might be interested! @cec-dr.bsky.social @cec-ted-policy.bsky.social

Excited to promote this @sparccenter.bsky.social session at the ECS National Forum on Ed Policy! web.cvent.com/event/a08f74...

Identifying who provides #specialeducation services in admin data can be challenging. Come learn from @sparccenter.bsky.social experts & our partners!

Join members of the SPARC Center (and me!) to learn more about studying #SpecialEducation teachers- we’ve got ideas & want to hear from you too! @cec-dr.bsky.social @ted-cec.bsky.social @aefpweb.bsky.social

This should be GOOD! @aefpweb.bsky.social @ted-cec.bsky.social @cec-dr.bsky.social @aeraedresearch.bsky.social @dqcdata.bsky.social

Evidence on teacher shortages in Washington state from the @caldercenter.bsky.social helps motivate #SPARCCenter work to address #SpecialEducation workforce challenges. Prioritizing these issues is key to improving outcomes for students with disabilities.

Anyone else have Gov Pritzker on their 2028 possibilities bingo card??

We need families to engage in #specialEducation workforce discussions now more than ever!

Exciting news @cec-ted-policy.bsky.social @tedcec.bsky.social - a district judge ruled in favor of reinstating teacher prep grants canceled a few weeks ago- things like TQP & SEED grants! YAY!!

Couldn’t agree more! @sparccenter dataqualitycampaign.org/the-so-what-...

Today is THE DAY!! Looking forward to the first of many opportunities to engage w/partners! Come to hear what we’re learning abt the #specialeducation workforce!

Really interesting work & super relevant to @sparccenter.bsky.social work- still demand & unmet supply needs in special ed!

Check out these FREE lesson guides, problem sets, and vocabulary cards - all focused on addition of whole numbers. buff.ly/437YW4c

I chair the BEST committee!! This is just a few reps of the AMAZING team working to ensure TED members are at the table and NOT on the menu.

Learn about cross-state analyses, upcoming research, and leadership strategies aimed at strengthening the #SpecialEducation workforce at the @sparccenter.bsky.social's upcoming Launch Event.   🗓️March 11 | 1 pm EST  📍Virtual  ✏️Register: www.air.org/centers/spec...

So many exciting things going on: @cec-ted-policy.bsky.social #advocacy tomorrow AND the @sparccenter.bsky.social launch next week- looking forward to interacting with so many people!!

@cec-ted-policy.bsky.social What questions do you have for our upcoming Washington Update?

This story highlights a special education residency program with Milwaukee Public Schools that I am proud of! (Even as the federal Department of Education turns aways from these kinds of investments.) spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee...

Counting down till the official launch! We need improved #EdData to improve #EdPolicy for #specialeducators & #studentswithdisabilities

@cec-ted-policy.bsky.social To advocate we need to be informed!!

My colleagues and I decided we would pull together a tracker of all the education-related activity of the new administration so far and uh, it's a lot. Did we forget something? (probably.) You can email [email protected] or my Signal address is cas.37. hechingerreport.org/tracking-tru...

If you’ve been directly impacted by the Trump purge of government workers or his Executive Orders, please DM me. I’d like to highlight your story and also see if there are folks in your community that can provide help, if you’re in need. We’ve got to take care of each other.

Pre-K — higher ed educators 📣 What are your thoughts about the potential dismantling of the Department of Education? Share w/ PBS @NewsHour Classroom's Educator Voice blog ✍️ by Fri., 2/21 here: bit.ly/40Q0vRw #DOE #EduSky #elachat #engchat #mschat #HigherEd #PreK #apush #apgov

📣 DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTERS ARE NON-BINDING GUIDANCE LETTERS. You cannot change what is considered illegal discrimination under federal law through non binding guidance.

@cec-ted-policy.bsky.social Have you advocated for children with disabilities today? www.votervoice.net/mobile/CFEC/...

New org established to defend Department of Education coalition of public education advocates, educators, beneficiaries of federal education funding, and former employees of the U.S. Department of Education www.protectpubliced.org

The latest set of reports from a collaborative effort by AIR, @gibillrights.bsky.social, the VA, and the U.S. Census Bureau examine why some individuals chose to forgo their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, with insights from veterans about improving the program. www.air.org/project/stud...

SIGN-ON Letter to Congressional leadership expressing concern about the recent incidents involving federal data being selectively removed from agency websites. Please consider signing on. Thank you. We are accepting signatures until noon (ET), Friday, February 7. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Simple policy solutions won’t fix this. We need to adjust how we recruit, how we train, how we deploy, & how we retain the workforce. And we need better data to know what’s working & what’s not.

We’re going to need new champions- ask your reps how they’ll keep fighting for disability rights!