In The Politics of Autism, I write about social services, special education, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A shortage of special education teachers is a big problem.
Anna Merod at K-12Dive:During the 2024-25 school year, 45 states reported teacher shortages in special education, according to the Learning Policy Institute.On September 30, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released its report entitled, “The Federal Response to Teacher Shortage Impacts on Students with Disabilities.”
These shortages can also lead to costly litigation between districts and families for missed special education services. To fill special educator vacancies, schools often rely on teachers not certified in special education or hire outside contractors to fill these roles.
These widespread shortages — which researchers and special education experts say were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic — continue to be a sticking point as the education community celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The historic legislation, signed into law on Nov. 29, 1975, guaranteed students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education nationwide. Until then, there was no federal requirement that schools must educate students with disabilities.
But five decades later, special education experts and advocates say much work remains to ensure that all students with disabilities indeed have access to a high-quality education.
