During the Great Recession, 120,000 teaching positions were cut. This history, combined with the fact that special educators represent the highest shortage area nationwide, shows that the pandemic has the potential to exacerbate this significant gap in key school and district personnel.
Special educators serve approximately 16 percent of the population aged 0-21 and are a critical part of every program, school, and district staff. Special educator positions must be preserved and provided additional support to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the young children and students they serve.
Therefore, states and districts must work together to:
Protect existing resources and personnel by maintaining existing jobs and avoiding expanded caseloads
Provide targeted and meaningful professional development responsive to the program or education environment, community needs, and changing regional and/or state circumstances
Protect and support the physical and mental health of all program and school personnel, including special educators
Provide and support the physical and mental health of all young children and families as appropriate
Create innovative ways to shore up program, school, and district teams so students have access to the instruction and related services they require (e.g., colleges/universities could partner with schools to allow teacher candidates to provide tutoring or remote instruction with supervision by the school team lead).