Special education teacher shortages exist in 49 of 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Federal support and planning have assisted schools across the nation in strengthening efforts to recruit, prepare and retain high-quality teachers with the goals to address teacher shortages and improve education systems.
In June of 2022, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona identified the Department of Education’s vision to support and elevate the teaching profession.
The federal vision includes three main priorities:
- Recruit diverse, high-qualified teachers into the profession and invest in high-quality teacher pipeline programs.
- Support educators’ professional development to ensure our nation’s students are receiving high-quality education to meet the demands of today’s economy.
- Invest in strategies to retain high-quality educators and keep them in the profession long-term.
In the fall of 2021, the Nebraska Department of Education’s Office of Special Education received funding from the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to address the need to improve special education teacher retention in the state through the Get SET Nebraska program.
Get SET Nebraska provides schools and districts with supports that align with the priorities outlined in Secretary Cardona’s vision. Examples of these supports are highlighted below.
GET SET NEBRASKA SUPPORTS ALIGN WITH priorities
Attracting special education teachers who are likely to stay
Get SET Nebraska’s Administrative Leadership Academy helps schools and districts create a customized retention plan for special education teachers. Learning modules focus on using evidence-based strategies to build a pipeline of special education teachers. Administrators are offered guidance on attracting teachers and identifying candidates who are likely to continue district employment. Administrators examine the possibility of building Grow your Own programs to recruit new teachers. Local and national examples support Nebraska districts in this process.
Understanding financial support options for special education teachers
Get SET Nebraska’s Administrative Leadership Academy provides administrators with research-based strategies and information on financial benefits that may be available to special education teachers. Tools assist administrators in evaluating initial pay scales and the potential for other financial incentives, such as loan forgiveness, service scholarships, paid student teaching and housing options.
Mentoring early career special education teachers
Get SET Nebraska has developed a comprehensive, evidence-based Special Education Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program for schools and districts. Administrators receive training on the importance of comprehensive induction and work to align a strong mentor match. Schools or districts support new special education teachers in their first three years of service by pairing them with a professional-level special education mentor. Teams work together to build relationships, identify supports, solve problems and plan caseload materials. Administrators provide personal connections and guidance throughout the program. This opportunity allows districts to provide individualized, responsive support to special education teachers.
Creating opportunities for teacher leadership and advancement
Professional-level special education teachers are leaders in the Get SET Nebraska Induction and Mentoring Program. They provide direct support and share their expertise with new special education teachers by assisting with information sharing, identifying resources, and offering instruction support and problem-solving opportunities.
Interested?
Do you want to begin the process of aligning your school or district’s retention planning with Secretary Cardona’s vision? Reserve your spot for the 2023-24 scale-up of implementation today. Contact us to learn more.
Pamela Brezenski, EdD
Project Manager, Get SET Nebraska
pbrezenski@esu13.org
701-578-5704