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Special Education Teacher Shortages – Building the Data Systems and Predictive Models to Understand the Scope of the Problem. Edward Caffarella , State University of New York, College at Cortland Rorie Fitzpatrick , Nevada Department of Education William Lange , Lange Research and Evaluation
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Special Education Teacher Shortages – Building the Data Systems and Predictive Models to Understand the Scope of the Problem Edward Caffarella, State University of New York, College at Cortland Rorie Fitzpatrick, Nevada Department of Education William Lange, Lange Research and Evaluation Sharon Schumacher, Alaska Department of Ed. and Early Development
Today’s Objectives • Share Nevada’s & Alaska’s Experiences • Tracking Teacher Attrition • Predicting Supply & Demand • Students and Teachers • Discuss the Issues, Using Real Data • Share Some Troubling Trends • Contemplate the Impacts and Next Steps
Teacher Attrition in Nevada Edward Caffarella, State University of New York, College at Cortland Rorie Fitzpatrick, Nevada Department of Education
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) performance measure #5 • The Statewide number and percentage of highly qualified special education teachers in State-identified professional disciplines consistent with sections 602(a)(10) and 612(a)(14) of IDEA, who remain teaching after the first three years of employment. • 483 started / 261 remained = 54%
Mentoring New Special Education Teachers • Clark County (Las Vegas area) • Washoe County (Reno area)
Mentoring New Special Education Teachers • Clark County (Las Vegas area) • Lost 16% after 1 year • Lost 30% after 2 years • Washoe County (Reno area) • Lost 25% after 1 year • Lost 45%% after 2 years • Statewide • Lost 19% after 1 year • Lost 32% after 2 years
About the Data Source • Teaching Assignment Database • Teacher, Class, School, District • Teacher Certification Database • Teacher, Certifications, Age • Used for Reporting Highly Qualified Teachers under NCLB • Designed to look within the year • Rotated database to look across multiple years
Actual Data • Using existing data • All teachers since 1997 • Repurposed the data • Tracked a Teacher’s Career • Full Population
Cumulative Percentage of Nevada Teachers Remaining Teaching by Years of Service *from National Commission on Teaching and America's Future. (2003). No Dream Denied: A Pledge to America's Children. Washington, DC: NCTAF.
Bermuda Triangle • High Attrition Rates • Large Numbers At or Approaching Retirement • Difficulty Hiring New Sp Ed Teachers
System Development Considerations • Use actual data • Sp Ed trends get buried in overall data • Mixed assignments = high retention rates • Losing large numbers of new teachers • Losing more special education teachers than regular education teachers