Shortage of Special Education Teachers

"Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand." –Mark Twain

SHORTAGE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS

The Chicago Tribune reports that the shortage of special education teachers has generated much discussion in education circles in the last decade. What hasn't received much attention, though, is the growing shortage of university professors to train those teachers. A Vanderbilt University study last year illustrated the severity of the faculty shortage: Some 30% of the special education faculty positions across the country were open and unfilled, and 20% more had been closed because they couldn't be filled. There also were 30% fewer doctorates awarded in special education than 20 years ago, and only about half those graduates chose to work at universities.