Addressing Special Education Staffing Shortages: Strategies for Schools

This EdResearch for Action brief examines the persistent shortage of special education teachers, driven by declining numbers of certified educators entering the field and increasing demand for services. Contributing factors include excessive workloads, insufficient administrative support, and limited access to quality curricular resources, leading to high turnover and burnout. Vulnerable students, particularly in low-income schools, are often taught by uncertified or emergency-credentialed teachers, compounding inequities. The brief highlights evidence-based solutions such as partnerships with teacher preparation programs, financial incentives to attract general educators to special education, and “grow your own” initiatives to increase workforce diversity.