Skip to main content

The SPARC Center is currently working with seven state education agencies to investigate the status of the special education teacher workforce and evaluate workforce policies and practices. The SPARC Center has the following research objectives. 

Research Objectives:

  • Describe the current state of the composition, distribution, stability, and effectiveness of the special education teacher (SET) workforce within and across seven states.
  • Assess the connections between SET preparation pathways and programs and the composition, distribution, stability, and effectiveness of the SET workforce within and across seven states.
  • Examine how policies and practices contribute to the composition, distribution, stability, and effectiveness of the SET workforce within and across seven states. 

Leadership Objectives:

  • Catalyze improved SET workforce data collection and infrastructure.
  • Engage a wide audience, including practitioners and policymakers at all levels of education systems, in SPARC research activities.
  • Build the field’s capacity to conduct and interpret rigorous, policy-relevant research on the K–12 SET workforce using SLDS.