Shortage of Special Education Teachers

One state (Iowa) facing this issue is developing a Teacher Advocacy Center to address the problem with funding from the state legislature. The goal of the Center is to build an advocacy center at specific school sites to train general education teache rs to have the skills to address the diversity of learners in their classes. This will make an impact on the need to hire more special education teachers and it will enhance the preparation of general education teachers to meet the diverse needs.

During the 1999-2000 school year, the University of Northern Iowa Department of Special Education will work with one school to develop a model to closely align with the curriculum school improvement effort and the school district's needs assessment. U sing a multi-disciplinary approach, faculty will talk with general education teachers, special education teachers, and administrators in an effort to advocate for the teachers, to build reform with teacher empowerment, and to work for teacher change.

Reform will come in the following areas: curriculum; technology assistance; resources; in-service; and moral level of support to reaffirm how difficult a teacher's job is and how well they are doing their jobs.

The model school will identify its needs and UNI will provide the resources to address those needs including providing skills for school teachers and serving as a training base for special education teachers and school psychologists in the pre-service preparation program.

By the 2000-2001 school year, the empowerment model will be ready for dissemination nationwide. For more information, contact Sandra Alper, Dept. of Special Education, UNI, Cedar Falls, IA 50614 or e-mail sandra.a lper@uni.edu