Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation

Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation Archived Affinity Group

Description

This series highlights successful strategies that educator preparation programs have employed to increase enrollment of special education candidates, including leveraging partnerships with K-12 districts, universities and community partners, and utilizing data collection efforts to drive decision-making. By championing each other, we champion special educators!

Meeting Materials

Session 1: Multiple Pathways into the Profession

This was the first session of the national affinity group, Championing Special Educators: Strategies for Recruitment & Retention in Educator Preparation. Multiple Pathways into the Profession will dive into two educator preparation programs providing innovative ways for students to obtain special education educator licensure.

Additional Resources

SMSU Paraprofessional to SpEd Program

Session 2: Making a Special Education Degree Affordable

In this session, we discussed two educator preparation programs that have innovative financial assistance for teacher candidates.

Additional Resources

AU Master of Arts in Special Education Program UW-Madison Special Education Teacher Residency Program Wisconsin Teacher Pledge

Session 3: Clinical Practice Experiences

In this session, we discussed how two educator preparation programs have used the Capturing Observations And Collaboratively sHaring Educational Data (COACHED) tool. Please watch this video to understand how their universities employ this tool to offer virtual reality-based clinical practice experiences for teacher candidates.

Additional Resources

University of Virginia : Coached Education Commission of the States: Clinical Experience Policy Brief EdPrepLab Clinical Practice Resources Ed-Fi Alliance Resources Mursion: Virtual Reality Training Simulations for Teachers and Educators AACTE Clinical Practice Commission AACTE Clinical Preparation Videos

Session 4: Special Education Candidate Wellness

In this session, we heard from Educators Thriving about the most common causes of educator burnout and the six factors that predict educator well-being. Additionally, we heard from Rowan University about how they teach preservice teachers to center wellness and how to humanize teaching practices.

Additional Resources

Don’t just survive. Thrive | Educators Thriving Educator Well-being Initiative | Educators Thriving Program video

Session 5: Championing Special Education Through Advocacy

In our last session, we went out with a bang! We heard from Kuna Tavalin, the Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor for the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), to learn more about championing special education through advocacy at both the state and federal levels and sharing insights on what you can do to elevate your voice.

Additional Resources

Council on Exceptional Children (CEC)- Policy and Advocacy Upcoming CEC Special Education Legislative Summit Special Education Careers - OPTIMISE AASA School Superintendents Association Council of Administrators of Special Educators (CASE) Legislative Priorities Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates-Legislative Tracker National Study of Special Education Funding 2026 How Federal Policy Creates Disparities in Special Education Funding

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High-Leverage Practices

RTAP Resource Hub

Reports and Briefs

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This website was produced under U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Award No. H325A220002. David Guardino serves as the project officer. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education. No official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education of any product, commodity, service, or enterprise mentioned in this website is intended or should be inferred.