ERIC Number: EJ1471387
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-8756-8705
EISSN: EISSN-2168-8605
Available Date: 0000-00-00
A Rural University's Response to the Polycrisis Facing Special Education Teacher Preparation
Colby T. Kervick1; Lori E. Meyer1; Kelly A. Swindlehurst1; Katharine G. Shepherd1
Rural Special Education Quarterly, v44 n2 p76-88 2025
The field of special education is currently in the grip of a pressing polycrisis, a convergence of multiple issues that collectively pose a significant threat. These issues, including a nationwide shortage of U.S. special education teachers, particularly in rural areas; declining enrollment in teacher preparation programs; and high teacher attrition rates due to stress and workload are urgent and demand immediate attention. To address this polycrisis, the paper's authors propose a novel approach to undergraduate special education teacher preparation in a rural university setting: a birth-age 21 program. Key features of the program's design will be reviewed, such as (a) a unified curriculum aligned with competencies and standards from early childhood and K-21 special education; (b) an emphasis on culturally responsive, family-centered practices; and (c) the prioritization of undergraduate student well-being and mental health, allowing space for personal development and interests. This article will close with potential benefits of a birth-age 21 teacher preparation program and recommendations for the field of special education and teacher educators.
Descriptors: Rural Colleges, Special Education, Special Education Teachers, Preservice Teacher Education, Preservice Teachers, Teacher Shortage, Declining Enrollment, Faculty Mobility, Faculty Workload, Stress Variables, Program Design, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Secondary Education, Culturally Relevant Education, Undergraduate Students, Well Being, Mental Health, Teacher Education Programs
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Early Childhood Education; Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1University of Vermont, Burlington, USA