💡“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...

🔍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!

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/...

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Join SPARC Center Director @roddy-theobald.bsky.social and Co-Director @afgilmour.bsky.social on August 13 at 11am ET for a free, virtual event hosted by the PROGRESS Center! Register: promotingprogress.org/events/prepp...

New @caldercenter.bsky.social paper alert! We (big group of authors) look at summer school as a pandemic recovery strategy. What do we find? 👇 caldercenter.org/publications...

New CALDER report by @roddy-theobald.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, Equia Aniagyei-Cobbold & Marcy Stein analyzes administrative, survey, & interview data related to 7 Attract Prepare Retain projects in PA, all targeting the special educator pipeline. Read 👉 caldercenter.org/publications...

In a recent @caldercenter.bsky.social study, @lindseykaler.bsky.social, @roddy-theobald.bsky.social, @lizbettini.bsky.social, and @natejones.bsky.social show how #SpecialEducation teacher turnover negatively impacts test scores—making teacher retention a critical priority. 📄 Learn more

Excited to share a new working paper with Bluesky-less Equia Aniagyei-Cobbold and @roddy-theobald.bsky.social : Unequal and Maybe Inequitable: Emergency Permitted Special Education Teachers in Pennsylvania Read it here- tinyurl.com/372h4bcy

New research on #SpecialEducation Personnel Attrition with PA Dept. of Ed shows: ➡️Admins leave more than teachers ➡️Higher attrition among Black educators, urban settings, and more diverse districts ➡️Retention must be role- & context-specific Learn more: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...

New paper w/ @lindseykaler.bsky.social , Mal Ragunathan, @lizbettini.bsky.social , & Katie Meyer! Drawing on DisCrit, we used narrative analysis to explore SETs' beliefs about students labeled w/ EBD, the purpose of special education & their roles in service of that purpose. doi.org/10.1177/0014...

There's a #SpecialEducation teacher shortage—but defining and identifying special education teachers varies by state and system. We’re unpacking the complexity in our upcoming webinar. 🗓️ June 26 at 3pm ET 🔗 Register: sparccenter.org/events/regis...

New @caldercenter.bsky.social WP! A study from my dissertation, w/ @roddy-theobald.bsky.social, @natejones.bsky.social‬, & @lizbettini.bsky.social. We find staff turnover matters for SWDs. Ungated WP & one pager: • Working paper: tinyurl.com/j3rykkp9 • One-pager: tinyurl.com/bddtzxtp

There will never be an obituary that can adequately capture all that Lynn Fuchs was as a scholar, mentor, and just wonderful human being. I’m grateful she was in my life. www.specialeducationtoday.com/p/lynn-s-fuc...

A lot of great people doing important work just lost their jobs because the most destructive, bigoted, willfully ignorant people in the world have targeted them. Here's what you can do to support yourself or anyone you know who lost a job. Please add your own advice at the end of the thread <1/n>

The shortage of #SpecialEducation teachers affects services for many students with disabilities. @afgilmour.bsky.social, @lizbettini.bsky.social, and @lmasonwms.bsky.social share ways families and advocates can help. ldaamerica.org/how-the-spec...

"IES data remain an essential source of basic information about the operation of K–12 and pre-school programs." www.educationnext.org/doge-targets...

Gutting the Department of Education would deliver a terrible blow to public schools, and have an immediate and tangible impact on students with disabilities.

Research with restricted-use data is more precise, powerful, and relevant. Faculty and staff will be working through the weekend to answer important research questions before we no longer can. This is not normal, necessary, or efficient.

A Statement from Jessica Heppen, AIR President & CEO: “Like many organizations, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) has had to make difficult decisions in response to recent federal funding cuts, including reducing our workforce by 18%. (1/4)

What an inspiring day at the SPARC Center Launch Event! 🎉 Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared ideas on how we can collaborate to drive transformation in #SpecialEducation. Excited for the journey ahead to create lasting change for educators and students! 🙌

Thinking of the dedicated public servants at ED who worked to improve student opportunities and outcomes 😔 wapo.st/3FhZ1Zw

Today!!!

Hey, have you registered yet for Tuesday's SPARC launch?? We'll be sharing descriptive results from our cross-state study of the composition, distribution, and stability of the special education workforce- come join us!!

Please join us for the @sparccenter.bsky.social launch event NEXT TUESDAY. Hear about work on the special educator workforce from me, @afgilmour.bsky.social, @lizbettini.bsky.social, @lmasonwms.bsky.social, & Carole Clancy, director of the PA Bureau of Special Education. tinyurl.com/SPARCLaunch

#CALDER2025 is next week! ✨ This one-day meeting will feature new #EdResearch from the @caldercenter.bsky.social and a discussion on the future of annual testing with researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. 📅 March 12 | In-Person 📍 Arlington, VA 📝Register: caldercenter.org/events/16th-...

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 EXCITED for the SPARC Launch!! Please register and join us - we'll be sharing descriptive results regarding the composition, distribution, & stability of the special ed workforce from five of our partner states, as well as sharing our next steps!

Teens with disabilities were getting help with life after high school. Then DOGE started cutting. www.chalkbeat.org/2025/02/26/t...

🚨 Only TWO weeks left until the #SPARCCenter Launch Event! 🚨 Join us on March 11, 2025, with @lizbettini.bsky.social, who will share next steps for our mixed-methods research and how the results can drive positive change in #SpecialEducation. 👉 Register: tinyurl.com/SPARCLaunch

⏳ The #SPARCCenter Launch Event is almost here! ⏳ Join us on March 11, 2025, with @lmasonwms.bsky.social discussing leadership in #SpecialEducation. Hear valuable insights on driving systemic change and supporting special educators. 👉 Register: tinyurl.com/SPARCLaunch