This study describes the Michigan special education work force (as of 1988-89) with regard to six issues, one primary and five supplemental, having to do with the need for and supply of special educators and attempts to predict future personnel needs. The primary issue concerns the factors that will affect the teacher supply and demand in the near future. Teacher data were projected over 3 years. The study used predictive models developed by the Office of Special Education Programs, that are either market based or prevalence based. The five supplementary issues include: special education synopsis, personnel gender ratios, teachers of students with learning disabilities, higher education training programs, and special education administrators. Narratives and graphs of statistical data provide analysis of the following areas: special educator shortages, teacher retention, retirement, recruitment, out-of-state teachers, out-of-field teachers, number of teachers issued emergency approval, teachers trained in-state, the market based model, the prevalence model, and data elements. In view of the identified decline in the special education teaching profession, recommendations are made for: (1) training more teachers to enter the field; and (2) retaining current teachers by reducing the level of attrition. Additional discussions and graphs address each of the supplementary issues. Attached tables present the data used in the models. (24 references) (DB)