Data from every state show an inadequate supply of qualified special education teachers, but some areas of the country have greater shortages than others. Typically, rural and urban areas in all states have greater shortages than suburban areas. Some school districts have such a hard time filling their special education teacher vacancies that they offer bonuses or other incentives to teachers willing to relocate there. Therefore, the major source of the difference in attrition rates is the number of special education teachers going into general education teaching positions. Although these special education teachers may bring excellent skills and insight into general education classrooms, it still means that they leave a vacant position behind.
Special education is a demanding profession with many challenges.
Special education teachers are most likely to leave teaching during the first five years. Those who make it through those first challenging years are more likely to continue to teach for many more. Beginning special education teachers encounter many of the same problems as general education teachers, including discipline concerns, parent difficulties, and inadequate or insufficient materials. Some states have mentor programs, where an experienced teacher is assigned to a first-year teacher to help ease his or her adjustment. As mentioned earlier, paperwork is often cited as a primary stress for special educators.