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,…

Proponents tout licensure reciprocity as a means for alleviating teacher shortages. In this paper, we describe existing national and regional reciprocity agreements and consider the arguments underlying this proposition. We use research on teacher shortages, the reserve pool, within-state variation in demand, and teacher mobility to draw…

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…

Information from 121 chairs of 1997-98 special educational search committees was collected. The majority of positions were at the rank of Assistant Professor and were left vacant due to faculty mobility. Seventy-three percent of searches ended successfully; 76% of those hired were women; and 20% were culturally or linguistically diverse. (Contains…

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…

Reports results of field observations and interviews with the first cohort to graduate from a collaborative elementary/special-education teacher-education program at the University of Florida. Students were not troubled by the diversity of instructor perspectives; in fact, they considered this diversity a program strength. Findings are discussed…

This paper describes the growth of private-sector involvement in the delivery of postsecondary education and its effect on institutions and on the development of general and special education teachers. It contends that the corporate approach to activities and governance is antithetical, if not hostile, to teacher-education reform. (Author/CR)

The article describes a collaborative program intended to recruit undergraduate liberal arts students into a graduate teacher-preparation program. The steps involved in the establishment and operation of the program are detailed. (Author/DB)

Journal publication frequencies of faculty members (N=892) of 81 doctorate-granting special education programs were analyzed with program reputational rankings. Mean program and per-capita frequencies over 5 years were 17.06 and 1.60 (respectively) and correlated positively but weakly with reputational rankings, suggesting that reputation is only…

The article describes a cooperative program of special education teacher preparation to recruit black students into an established master of education program and prepare them for careers in special education. (Author/CL)

A study of the supply and demand for doctoral graduates in all areas of special education compared the number of recent graduates with position announcements appearing in a major professional publication. Results suggest demand may soon exceed supply. In one area, communication disorders, supply has consistently exceeded demand. (MSE)

This study investigated the supply and demand of leadership personnel in special education and communication disorders. An analysis of failed college faculty searches in 1988 supported predictions about demand outstripping supply. The shortage was most acute at institutions of higher education with small departmental faculties. (DB)

This paper reviews findings from 19 studies of alternative teacher certification programs and concludes that they have not been shown to be inferior to traditional programs. The quality of the research is examined, and the appropriateness of the secondary content area model for elementary and special education is considered from theoretical and…

This study explored variables differentiating more and less effective teachers (N=24) of mildly retarded and learning-disabled elementary students. Personal/educational variables proved insignificant. Effective teachers conducted activities in the classroom, made frequent use of teacher questioning, limited independent seatwork (especially silent…