Understanding the context of the demand for special education (SE) teacher education (TE) faculty is important because it can provide faculty at doctoral-granting universities with useful information for program planning. Knowing more about SE teacher preparation programs currently in place and program revisions being planned allows doctoral…

This manuscript examines how teacher candidates enacted their extensive inclusive classroom preparation within simulated interactions. Diffusing a common medical education pedagogy to teacher education, the researchers situated inclusively-trained teacher candidates in front of standardized paraprofessionals. Data from these simulated interactions…

The diversity of teacher roles has been a long-standing concern in the field of special education. Role complexity has been implicated in teacher burnout and attrition and in the inefficiency of service delivery models. Recent evidence suggests that new policy may be further complicating teacher roles and that teachers may not be prepared for such…

This study investigated (a) variables that predict amount of time students with severe disabilities spend in leisure and physical activity education and (b) teacher beliefs about provision of these services. Participants included 35 secondary special education teachers and 170 students with severe disabilities. Findings suggest that special…

This article describes the nature and current status of special education teacher preparation in Belgium, Russian, and United States. Findings from in-depth qualitative interviews, observations and analysis of documents were used to examine the difference perspectives on the preparation of special educators within higher education settings.…

Six special educators at secondary level were observed and interviewed in their co-taught classrooms. The special educators took on roles ranging from providing support to the general educators to team teaching. Knowledge of content, attitude of the general educators, and scheduling issues influenced the role that each teacher took. (Contains…

This article focuses on the role of the special educator in an inclusive school. It reviews the development of a special education knowledge base and specific schools' change to an inclusive service delivery model. The information indicates special educators' roles include instruction, assessment, curriculum, leadership, and record keeping.…

This study examined the various teaching roles engaged in by four primary-grade special education teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing in co-enrollment classes with hearing students. Results indicated that most teachers engaged in teaching deaf students only, followed by teaching the whole class, and interpreting. (Contains…

A survey of special education (n=95) and general education (n=73) co-teachers found they had little scheduled mutual planning time. Teachers agreed about who takes responsibility for evaluation, but each group believed itself more responsible for instruction and behavior management. Few teachers experienced the teacher preparations rated most…

A study compared perspectives of 78 teachers in inclusive schools and 84 teachers in non-inclusive schools. The inclusion teachers had significantly more positive perspectives regarding inclusion. The groups differed regarding how well prepared their school was for inclusion, concern with teachers' roles, and concern with the effect of inclusion.…

Identifies and discusses issues associated with the employment of paraprofessionals in special education programs likely to be of the greatest importance and interest to teacher educators. These include teacher preparation to supervise, training of paraprofessionals, role overlap, paraprofessionals as community links, and paraprofessionals as…

Describes the growing nihilism in teacher education and the charge that special education is not special but rather good general education. Discusses the need for special education teachers to articulate what is special about what special educators do, or risk being seen as inconsequential. (CR)

Reflects on previous articles in the same journal that address preservice teacher education for special education teachers. The conflicting views, disagreements about instructional strategies, and increasingly broad views of how special education interfaces with other education enterprises, are believed to distract from core principles of the…

Comments on previous articles in the same journal that address preservice teacher education for special educators. The differing viewpoints are seen as potential strengths that will contribute to the growth of special education as it moves toward the future. Urges support of diverse viewpoints. (CR)

Reflects on previous articles in the same journal on preparation of special education teachers. Discusses the need for special educators to focus their efforts more on teaching the teachers, rather than on system change. Also addresses the challenge of detailing the differences and similarities in students, tasks, and instruction that are relevant…