Although collaborative teacher education programs have grown in number over the past two decades, we still do not understand the ways in which these programs, or the practices in those programs, improve the preparation of inclusive teachers. At a time when teacher education's viability is being questioned, it is problematic that little information…

In this article, the authors propose an agenda for special education teacher education researchers, with particular attention to policy work and studies of innovations in pre-service preparation, induction and mentoring, and professional development. Because previous research is limited and unfocused, the foundation for future research is weak,…

One of the greatest challenges that general education teachers face is how to address the educational needs of an increasingly diverse student population. Perhaps what is most disturbing about this challenge is that many general education teachers seem unprepared to face it. Researchers investigating inclusive classrooms have found that general…

Discussion of the research-to-practice gap in special education focuses on the dissemination problems of scale, school politics, and social and institutional contexts, including schools of education. Recommendations include improving access to a teacher friendly research knowledge base, improving preservice education, creating broader staff…

A study of 128 general education teachers found that teachers' efficacy beliefs for instructing students with learning and behavior problems had a direct effect on their perceived success in instructing mainstreamed special education students. Teacher efficacy also mediated the influence of self-perceptions related to the quality of preservice…

This review of 5 books, 21 articles, and 11 papers on general- and special-education collaboration found that the dominant culture of individualism and balkanization in higher education institutions, the lack of appropriate reward structures for collaboration, and contrived collegiality inhibit the development of collaboration. Characteristics of…

This article offers a conceptual model for studying teacher attrition and retention. The model incorporates historical, environmental, and external factors believed to influence teachers' decisions about whether to continue teaching. The framework is used to draw implications for future special education teacher preparation research. (Author/DB)

This paper reviews 12 studies of special education teacher attrition, concluding that research-based models for improving the retention of special education teachers do not exist. Guidelines for a research agenda to identify variables that influence the attrition of special education teachers are offered. (DB)