ERIC Number: EJ1471934
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
Looking through the Lens of Rural Special Education Teachers: A National Survey
Olga Karadimou1; Annemarie L. Horn2; Kimberly K. Floyd3; Jonna L. Bobzien1; Karen H. Douglas2; Corinne Wilson1
Rural Special Education Quarterly, v44 n2 p102-114 2025
Hiring and retaining qualified special education teachers (SETs) in rural areas is an ongoing challenge. We disseminated an electronic national survey to learn about the preservice preparation of current and former rural SETs and their preferences for receiving in-service professional development (PD) and support. A total of 314 current or former rural SETs across 26 U.S. states completed the survey. Results show statistically significant differences in perceived preparation between SETs who completed a preservice educator preparation program (EPP) with clinical experiences, compared with those who held a provisional/emergency license when initially hired. Nonetheless, both groups highlight a desire to receive ongoing, in-service PD and administrative support. Recommendations for supporting SETs in rural school districts are offered.
Descriptors: Rural Schools, Special Education, Special Education Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Teacher Surveys, National Surveys, Teacher Selection, Teacher Persistence, Rural Areas, Preservice Teacher Education, Preservice Teachers, Preferences, Inservice Teacher Education, Clinical Experience, Rural Education, Teacher Shortage, Evidence Based Practice, Teacher Education Curriculum, Faculty Development
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA; 2Radford University, VA, USA; 3West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA