SPARC Center
@sparccenter.bsky.social
The SPARC Center at @airinforms.bsky.social conducts research & leads systemic change to strengthen the special educator workforce. Visit us at https://sparccenter.org/!
💡“The unique thing about Pennsylvania is they decided to do as many things as they can at once, addressing each part of the [special education teacher] pipeline.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social
Read how Pennsylvania supports its #SpecialEducation workforce: www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
Read how Pennsylvania supports its #SpecialEducation workforce: www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
Inside One State's Bold Plan to Keep Special Education Teachers
Pennsylvania's training and mentoring program works to retain teachers serving students with disabilities.
www.edweek.org
December 22, 2025 at 8:25 PM
💡“The unique thing about Pennsylvania is they decided to do as many things as they can at once, addressing each part of the [special education teacher] pipeline.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social
Read how Pennsylvania supports its #SpecialEducation workforce: www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
Read how Pennsylvania supports its #SpecialEducation workforce: www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
“Delivering effective #SpecialEducation involves collecting data, monitoring progress, and making instructional changes when progress stalls or falters.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social
Alli’s recent article in Education Next reflects on 50 years of #IDEA: www.educationnext.org/idea-at-50-l...
Alli’s recent article in Education Next reflects on 50 years of #IDEA: www.educationnext.org/idea-at-50-l...
IDEA at 50
The landmark federal law ensured access for students with disabilities. Now it’s time to focus on outcomes.
www.educationnext.org
December 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
“Delivering effective #SpecialEducation involves collecting data, monitoring progress, and making instructional changes when progress stalls or falters.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social
Alli’s recent article in Education Next reflects on 50 years of #IDEA: www.educationnext.org/idea-at-50-l...
Alli’s recent article in Education Next reflects on 50 years of #IDEA: www.educationnext.org/idea-at-50-l...
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (#IDEA) was enacted 50 years ago. @airinforms.bsky.social highlights IDEA’s impact and the ongoing work to ensure a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities below.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (#IDEA) turns 50 this month! 🎉 This landmark law opened doors for millions of students with disabilities.
Watch AIR experts explain what expanded access means for students, families and communities: https://bit.ly/4p9jHEX
Watch AIR experts explain what expanded access means for students, families and communities: https://bit.ly/4p9jHEX
November 26, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (#IDEA) was enacted 50 years ago. @airinforms.bsky.social highlights IDEA’s impact and the ongoing work to ensure a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities below.
💡“Our shortages aren’t really from not having enough people; it’s having people teaching the wrong thing.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social
Check out this article from Education Week which features research from our recent working paper on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.
Check out this article from Education Week which features research from our recent working paper on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.
Schools Have the Special Educators—But Keep Losing Them to General Ed.: A study across seven states finds educators for students with disabilities need more targeted support.
Schools Have the Special Educators—But Keep Losing Them to General Ed.
A study across seven states finds educators for students with disabilities need more targeted support.
www.edweek.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:45 PM
💡“Our shortages aren’t really from not having enough people; it’s having people teaching the wrong thing.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social
Check out this article from Education Week which features research from our recent working paper on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.
Check out this article from Education Week which features research from our recent working paper on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.
Did you know recruitment and retention of #SpecialEducation teachers varies widely by school contexts, including by poverty level, enrollment demographics, and location?
🔎Explore more with our data visualizer: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
🔎Explore more with our data visualizer: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
November 18, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Did you know recruitment and retention of #SpecialEducation teachers varies widely by school contexts, including by poverty level, enrollment demographics, and location?
🔎Explore more with our data visualizer: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
🔎Explore more with our data visualizer: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
🎉 Congratulations to SPARC Center’s @lmasonwms.bsky.social for receiving the Excellence in Teacher Education Award from @ted-cec.bsky.social!
This honor recognizes Lucky's outstanding contributions to preparing and supporting #SpecialEducation teachers.
This honor recognizes Lucky's outstanding contributions to preparing and supporting #SpecialEducation teachers.
November 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
🎉 Congratulations to SPARC Center’s @lmasonwms.bsky.social for receiving the Excellence in Teacher Education Award from @ted-cec.bsky.social!
This honor recognizes Lucky's outstanding contributions to preparing and supporting #SpecialEducation teachers.
This honor recognizes Lucky's outstanding contributions to preparing and supporting #SpecialEducation teachers.
✨What does the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce look like within and across states? Our new interactive data visualizer tool looks at the composition, stability, and distribution of the workforce in our seven partner states.
Explore the tool: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
Explore the tool: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
SPARC Data Explorer | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:35 PM
✨What does the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce look like within and across states? Our new interactive data visualizer tool looks at the composition, stability, and distribution of the workforce in our seven partner states.
Explore the tool: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
Explore the tool: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
"As we have demonstrated, different states face different #SpecialEducation teacher turnover problems. This suggests that the most promising solutions might vary across states."
Read more about our recent findings in our article with @brookings.edu: www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...
Read more about our recent findings in our article with @brookings.edu: www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...
States face different special education staffing challenges that require targeted responses | Brookings
Special education teacher turnover varies by state, calling for targeted, locally informed policy solutions.
www.brookings.edu
November 12, 2025 at 5:31 PM
"As we have demonstrated, different states face different #SpecialEducation teacher turnover problems. This suggests that the most promising solutions might vary across states."
Read more about our recent findings in our article with @brookings.edu: www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...
Read more about our recent findings in our article with @brookings.edu: www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...
🔍Our new Working Paper uses consistent variables across states. Leveraging Common Education Data Standards and Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems enables meaningful cross-state comparisons of the #SpecialEducation Teacher workforce.
Read more: sparccenter.org/research-fin...
Read more: sparccenter.org/research-fin...
The Composition, Distribution, and Stability of the Special Education Teacher Workforce in Seven States | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
🔍Our new Working Paper uses consistent variables across states. Leveraging Common Education Data Standards and Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems enables meaningful cross-state comparisons of the #SpecialEducation Teacher workforce.
Read more: sparccenter.org/research-fin...
Read more: sparccenter.org/research-fin...
💡SPARC Center’s @roddy-theobald.bsky.social is presenting at @appam.bsky.social this week. Explore his sessions at the link below.
AIR is proud to be a Gold Sponsor at #APPAM2025 next week in Seattle.
Our experts will be presenting on topics such as college access, CTE, teacher workforce, AI in education, and career pathways.
🔗 Explore all our @appam.bsky.social sessions: https://bit.ly/47t1wSU
Our experts will be presenting on topics such as college access, CTE, teacher workforce, AI in education, and career pathways.
🔗 Explore all our @appam.bsky.social sessions: https://bit.ly/47t1wSU
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
💡SPARC Center’s @roddy-theobald.bsky.social is presenting at @appam.bsky.social this week. Explore his sessions at the link below.
🌟SPARC Center researchers are presenting at @ted-cec.bsky.social next week. Check out this thread for their sessions:
November 7, 2025 at 6:33 PM
🌟SPARC Center researchers are presenting at @ted-cec.bsky.social next week. Check out this thread for their sessions:
📢 Our new Working Paper provides important cross-state insights into the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.
We highlight some of our major findings in this thread⬇️
We highlight some of our major findings in this thread⬇️
November 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM
📢 Our new Working Paper provides important cross-state insights into the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.
We highlight some of our major findings in this thread⬇️
We highlight some of our major findings in this thread⬇️
📢 NEW RESEARCH ALERT! The SPARC Center is excited to share THREE new resources with our findings from our first year of research on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.
Explore the resources in this thread, or visit our website to learn more: sparccenter.org
Explore the resources in this thread, or visit our website to learn more: sparccenter.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
📢 NEW RESEARCH ALERT! The SPARC Center is excited to share THREE new resources with our findings from our first year of research on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.
Explore the resources in this thread, or visit our website to learn more: sparccenter.org
Explore the resources in this thread, or visit our website to learn more: sparccenter.org
💡Attending #SREE2025 this week? Join SPARC Center experts @lizbettini.bsky.social and @afgilmour.bsky.social for their session on Measuring and Strengthening the Special Education Teacher Workforce on Saturday, Oct 11 from 12-1:30 CT at Palmer House Hilton – Crystal.
October 8, 2025 at 8:36 PM
💡Attending #SREE2025 this week? Join SPARC Center experts @lizbettini.bsky.social and @afgilmour.bsky.social for their session on Measuring and Strengthening the Special Education Teacher Workforce on Saturday, Oct 11 from 12-1:30 CT at Palmer House Hilton – Crystal.
The US Commission on Civil Rights (@usccrgov.bsky.social) released a new report on The Federal Response to Teacher Shortage Impacts on Students with Disabilities, offering eight suggestions to help overcome longstanding shortages: www.usccr.gov/reports/2025...
The Federal Response to Teacher Shortage Impacts on Students with Disabilities
The Commission began this investigation to better understand how the national teacher shortage is affecting students with disabilities and to examine how the federal government, especially the U.S. De...
www.usccr.gov
October 3, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The US Commission on Civil Rights (@usccrgov.bsky.social) released a new report on The Federal Response to Teacher Shortage Impacts on Students with Disabilities, offering eight suggestions to help overcome longstanding shortages: www.usccr.gov/reports/2025...
Reposted by SPARC Center
Hot off the presses a new @caldercenter.bsky.social paper on which college students are opting into a path toward becoming a teacher (by applying to a teacher ed program): caldercenter.org/publications...
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September 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Hot off the presses a new @caldercenter.bsky.social paper on which college students are opting into a path toward becoming a teacher (by applying to a teacher ed program): caldercenter.org/publications...
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🎓 Is having a dual-certification in #SpecialEducation and general education better than having one certification? SPARC Center co-director @afgilmour.bsky.social and Tiffany Lam reviewed the research to learn more on this topic: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
September 26, 2025 at 5:55 PM
🎓 Is having a dual-certification in #SpecialEducation and general education better than having one certification? SPARC Center co-director @afgilmour.bsky.social and Tiffany Lam reviewed the research to learn more on this topic: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by SPARC Center
Excited to circulate another @caldercenter.bsky.social WP! Another study from my dissertation, w/ @roddy-theobald.bsky.social. Using data from WA, we track individual paraeducators to predict exit from the state education workforce. Ungated WP here: tinyurl.com/3wtfrm2m
🧵 below:
🧵 below:
July 22, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Excited to circulate another @caldercenter.bsky.social WP! Another study from my dissertation, w/ @roddy-theobald.bsky.social. Using data from WA, we track individual paraeducators to predict exit from the state education workforce. Ungated WP here: tinyurl.com/3wtfrm2m
🧵 below:
🧵 below:
Policy solutions can help stabilize and diversify the paraeducator workforce to improve #SpecialEducation outcomes. A recent paper by @lindseykaler.bsky.social and @roddy-theobald.bsky.social at @caldercenter.bsky.social examines turnover patterns in WA and offers suggestions for policymakers.
September 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Policy solutions can help stabilize and diversify the paraeducator workforce to improve #SpecialEducation outcomes. A recent paper by @lindseykaler.bsky.social and @roddy-theobald.bsky.social at @caldercenter.bsky.social examines turnover patterns in WA and offers suggestions for policymakers.
Reposted by SPARC Center
Excited to share a new publication with co-author Tiffany Lam- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Dual-Certification in Special Education and General Education. Read the full paper here- journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
August 26, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Excited to share a new publication with co-author Tiffany Lam- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Dual-Certification in Special Education and General Education. Read the full paper here- journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
SPARC Center Co-Directors @afgilmour.bsky.social and @lizbettini.bsky.social will join @aefpweb.bsky.social for a free forum on teacher shortages and vacancies on August 28 from 1–2pm ET.
Register to attend: aefpweb.org/ev_calendar_...
Register to attend: aefpweb.org/ev_calendar_...
August 21, 2025 at 7:55 PM
SPARC Center Co-Directors @afgilmour.bsky.social and @lizbettini.bsky.social will join @aefpweb.bsky.social for a free forum on teacher shortages and vacancies on August 28 from 1–2pm ET.
Register to attend: aefpweb.org/ev_calendar_...
Register to attend: aefpweb.org/ev_calendar_...
Join SPARC Center Director @roddy-theobald.bsky.social and Co-Director @afgilmour.bsky.social on August 13 at 11am ET for a free, virtual event hosted by the PROGRESS Center!
Register: promotingprogress.org/events/prepp...
Register: promotingprogress.org/events/prepp...
August 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Join SPARC Center Director @roddy-theobald.bsky.social and Co-Director @afgilmour.bsky.social on August 13 at 11am ET for a free, virtual event hosted by the PROGRESS Center!
Register: promotingprogress.org/events/prepp...
Register: promotingprogress.org/events/prepp...
In this new paper, #SPARCCenter Co-PI LaRon Scott draws on psychological theory to offer a fresh perspective on the high turnover rates among #SpecialEducation teachers of color—and what we can do about it.
📄 Read more: doi.org/10.1080/1547...
📄 Read more: doi.org/10.1080/1547...
A Theory Towards Special Education Teachers of Color Turnover: A Critical Analysis of Racialized Working Conditions
This article advances an equity-focused theory to describe working conditions and turnover for special education teachers of color. While researchers have underscored the disproportionately higher ...
doi.org
August 5, 2025 at 9:14 PM
In this new paper, #SPARCCenter Co-PI LaRon Scott draws on psychological theory to offer a fresh perspective on the high turnover rates among #SpecialEducation teachers of color—and what we can do about it.
📄 Read more: doi.org/10.1080/1547...
📄 Read more: doi.org/10.1080/1547...
Many of our #SpecialEducation colleagues are coming together for the @usedgov.bsky.social Office of Special Education Programs Project Directors’ Meeting this week! Improving outcomes for students with disabilities requires a strong, well-qualified, and stable workforce. Learn more: sparccenter.org
Home | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
August 4, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Many of our #SpecialEducation colleagues are coming together for the @usedgov.bsky.social Office of Special Education Programs Project Directors’ Meeting this week! Improving outcomes for students with disabilities requires a strong, well-qualified, and stable workforce. Learn more: sparccenter.org
In a recent @caldercenter.bsky.social study, @lindseykaler.bsky.social, @roddy-theobald.bsky.social, @lizbettini.bsky.social, and @natejones.bsky.social show how #SpecialEducation teacher turnover negatively impacts test scores—making teacher retention a critical priority.
📄 Learn more
📄 Learn more
Impacts of Staff Turnover on Test Scores for Students With and Without Disabilities | CALDER Center
caldercenter.org
July 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
In a recent @caldercenter.bsky.social study, @lindseykaler.bsky.social, @roddy-theobald.bsky.social, @lizbettini.bsky.social, and @natejones.bsky.social show how #SpecialEducation teacher turnover negatively impacts test scores—making teacher retention a critical priority.
📄 Learn more
📄 Learn more