Presented is the 1971-72 annual report on the current supply of and demand for special education (SE) personnel, which is published by the U. S. Commissioner of Education. The introduction gives an overview and includes incidence of handicapped children (7 percent to 12 percent of the population) a definition, types of school programs, and information relating to supply, demand, and the federal role. Described as major influences on requirements for SE personnel are definitions of the handicapped population and kinds of services the population needs. Personnel supply is discussed in terms of the quantitative and qualitative impact of federal legislation on the supply of qualified SE personnel, characteristics of current personnel, and SE training for regular classroom personnel. Assessment of future SE personnel requirements is said to depend on probable effects of educational trends and new approaches such as to improved data collection at the federal and state levels. Assessment of future SE personnel supply is said to depend on such factors as the funding of institutional training programs and strategies affecting training alternatives. Included in appendixes are lists of handicapping conditions by educational grouping and definition, and an alphabetical list of schools that did or did not receive federal funds to educate SE personnel during 1970 to 1971. (MC)