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/!
💡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
We can’t afford to lose #SpecialEducation teachers to burnout. Improving working conditions is critical to keeping them in the profession.
Check out this new research review from #SPARCCenter Co-Director @lizbettini.bsky.social and colleagues: doi.org/10.3102/0034...
Check out this new research review from #SPARCCenter Co-Director @lizbettini.bsky.social and colleagues: doi.org/10.3102/0034...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
doi.org
July 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
We can’t afford to lose #SpecialEducation teachers to burnout. Improving working conditions is critical to keeping them in the profession.
Check out this new research review from #SPARCCenter Co-Director @lizbettini.bsky.social and colleagues: doi.org/10.3102/0034...
Check out this new research review from #SPARCCenter Co-Director @lizbettini.bsky.social and colleagues: doi.org/10.3102/0034...
Are you a novice leader or looking to increase your capacity to support the implementation of IDEA?
Apply for the free, yearlong Lead IDEA Leadership Academy: lead-idea.org/lead-idea-le...
Apply for the free, yearlong Lead IDEA Leadership Academy: lead-idea.org/lead-idea-le...
Lead IDEA Leadership Academy | Lead IDEA
The Lead IDEA Center is excited to launch the 2025-2026 Lead IDEA Leadership Academy — a dynamic leadership development experience for local early intervention (EI) program and PreK-Grade 12 school bu...
lead-idea.org
July 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Are you a novice leader or looking to increase your capacity to support the implementation of IDEA?
Apply for the free, yearlong Lead IDEA Leadership Academy: lead-idea.org/lead-idea-le...
Apply for the free, yearlong Lead IDEA Leadership Academy: lead-idea.org/lead-idea-le...
Supporting #SpecialEducation teachers can boost their desire to remain in the classroom.
New research from #SPARCCenter Co-PI LaRon Scott, Salena Layden and Kristin Gansle explores how supports are related to their intentions to remain in teaching.
📄 Learn more: doi.org/10.1177/1088...
New research from #SPARCCenter Co-PI LaRon Scott, Salena Layden and Kristin Gansle explores how supports are related to their intentions to remain in teaching.
📄 Learn more: doi.org/10.1177/1088...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
doi.org
July 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Supporting #SpecialEducation teachers can boost their desire to remain in the classroom.
New research from #SPARCCenter Co-PI LaRon Scott, Salena Layden and Kristin Gansle explores how supports are related to their intentions to remain in teaching.
📄 Learn more: doi.org/10.1177/1088...
New research from #SPARCCenter Co-PI LaRon Scott, Salena Layden and Kristin Gansle explores how supports are related to their intentions to remain in teaching.
📄 Learn more: doi.org/10.1177/1088...
In the Handbook of Education Policy Research (2nd Edition), @lmasonwms.bsky.social and Margaret McLaughlin explore “Finding the Right Tools: The Affordances and Limitations of the IDEA”.
📘 See the full table of contents: www.aera.net/Portals/38/2...
📘 See the full table of contents: www.aera.net/Portals/38/2...
www.aera.net
July 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
In the Handbook of Education Policy Research (2nd Edition), @lmasonwms.bsky.social and Margaret McLaughlin explore “Finding the Right Tools: The Affordances and Limitations of the IDEA”.
📘 See the full table of contents: www.aera.net/Portals/38/2...
📘 See the full table of contents: www.aera.net/Portals/38/2...
Our researchers are digging into questions about the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce. Recently, @lizbettini.bsky.social, @lindseykaler.bsky.social, @hannahmmathews.bsky.social, Malavika Ragunathan & Katheryn Meyer explored teacher beliefs about students labeled with EBD.
“Well, Those Students Have a Name:” Special Educators’ Beliefs About Students Labeled With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
July 17, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Our researchers are digging into questions about the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce. Recently, @lizbettini.bsky.social, @lindseykaler.bsky.social, @hannahmmathews.bsky.social, Malavika Ragunathan & Katheryn Meyer explored teacher beliefs about students labeled with EBD.
Reposted by SPARC Center
Excited to share a new working paper with Bluesky-less Equia Aniagyei-Cobbold and @roddy-theobald.bsky.social : Unequal and Maybe Inequitable: Emergency Permitted Special Education Teachers in Pennsylvania
Read it here- tinyurl.com/372h4bcy
Read it here- tinyurl.com/372h4bcy
Unequal and Maybe Inequitable: Emergency Permitted Special Education Teachers in Pennsylvania | CALDER Center
tinyurl.com
July 17, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Excited to share a new working paper with Bluesky-less Equia Aniagyei-Cobbold and @roddy-theobald.bsky.social : Unequal and Maybe Inequitable: Emergency Permitted Special Education Teachers in Pennsylvania
Read it here- tinyurl.com/372h4bcy
Read it here- tinyurl.com/372h4bcy
New research on #SpecialEducation Personnel Attrition with PA Dept. of Ed shows:
➡️Admins leave more than teachers
➡️Higher attrition among Black educators, urban settings, and more diverse districts
➡️Retention must be role- & context-specific
Learn more: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
➡️Admins leave more than teachers
➡️Higher attrition among Black educators, urban settings, and more diverse districts
➡️Retention must be role- & context-specific
Learn more: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
July 15, 2025 at 7:58 PM
New research on #SpecialEducation Personnel Attrition with PA Dept. of Ed shows:
➡️Admins leave more than teachers
➡️Higher attrition among Black educators, urban settings, and more diverse districts
➡️Retention must be role- & context-specific
Learn more: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
➡️Admins leave more than teachers
➡️Higher attrition among Black educators, urban settings, and more diverse districts
➡️Retention must be role- & context-specific
Learn more: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Our researchers recently hosted a webinar on the challenges of identifying #SpecialEducation teachers in state longitudinal data systems (#SLDS). Scroll through some of our initial learnings from our first year analyzing data and stay tuned for a working paper with these results.
July 7, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Our researchers recently hosted a webinar on the challenges of identifying #SpecialEducation teachers in state longitudinal data systems (#SLDS). Scroll through some of our initial learnings from our first year analyzing data and stay tuned for a working paper with these results.
TOMORROW! 🚨
Don’t miss our webinar on how we define and track #SpecialEducation teachers in workforce data.
⏰ June 26 | 3pm ET
🔗 sparccenter.org/events/regis...
Don’t miss our webinar on how we define and track #SpecialEducation teachers in workforce data.
⏰ June 26 | 3pm ET
🔗 sparccenter.org/events/regis...
June 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
TOMORROW! 🚨
Don’t miss our webinar on how we define and track #SpecialEducation teachers in workforce data.
⏰ June 26 | 3pm ET
🔗 sparccenter.org/events/regis...
Don’t miss our webinar on how we define and track #SpecialEducation teachers in workforce data.
⏰ June 26 | 3pm ET
🔗 sparccenter.org/events/regis...