Economic Interventions as Policy Levers for Attracting and Retaining Special Education Teachers

Recruiting and retaining effective special educators is essential for improving the outcomes of students with disabilities; yet, it remains one of the foremost challenges facing special education. In this chapter, the authors provide an overview of the extent to which economic interventions—such as bonuses, increased salaries, and loan forgiveness—may serve as effective policy levers for attracting and keeping special educators in the classroom. The chapter begins with a brief overview of special educator shortages resulting from recruitment and attrition issues, followed by a brief overview of the extent of four different kinds of attrition and potential pools of teachers available to fill positions. The authors then provide a comprehensive review of research on the effectiveness of different forms of economic interventions on teacher recruitment and retention, paying specific attention to research that has focused on the case of special education. The authors end the chapter by providing a roadmap for the kinds of data and research that would provide our field with a more robust understanding of strategies that could help to ensure that all students have access to qualified special educators.