Special Education Teacher Attrition and Retention

Abstract

Special education teacher attrition contributes significantly to teacher shortages across the nationimpacting the education for students with disabilities in public schools. Research shows external, employment, and personal factors such as inadequate salary schedules, lack of administrative support, and low job satisfaction lead to teacher burnout driving special educator career decisions of leaving current positions or the field altogether. Novice teachers, those in rural areas, and teachers of students with specialized needs are particularly impacted. This Capstone project will investigate the factors associated with special education teacher attrition along with current initiatives which research shows can provide necessary supports to special education teachers to increase retention in the field of special education. A plan will also be presented for implementation of a professional learning community for special education teachers at the district level. A product for practitioners will also be described.