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afgilmour.bsky.social
Alli Gilmour
@afgilmour.bsky.social
370 followers 140 following 37 posts
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afgilmour.bsky.social
Can we please stop having conferences on Saturday?
December 5, 2025 at 1:38 PM
afgilmour.bsky.social
I love this paper. If you study special education teachers, or support special education teachers, you need to read it!
lizbettini.bsky.social Liz Bettini @lizbettini.bsky.social · 13d
Excited to share a new Project RESPECT paper out today in RASE, defining special educators' working conditions! We often talk about "working conditions" but seldom precisely define them. 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
December 5, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
lizbettini.bsky.social
Fantastic, thorough, and nuanced analysis of IDEA at 50, by @afgilmour.bsky.social

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 4, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
sparccenter.bsky.social
🔍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...
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
afgilmour.bsky.social
This is such a fun resource! You can play with the data and examine trends within and across states
sparccenter.bsky.social SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 18d
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...
Screenshot from the SPARC Center Data Explorer. The graph looks at the percentage of special education teachers (SETs) who changed schools by school-poverty level. Seven states are included: Hawai‘i, Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. For each state, there are three dots showing the percent of SETs moving schools at low-poverty schools, middle-poverty schools, and high-poverty schools. In all states except Hawai‘i, the rate is highest for high-poverty schools.
November 20, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
sparccenter.bsky.social
💡“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.
edweek.org Education Week @edweek.org · 22d
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
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
sparccenter.bsky.social
"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...
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
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
lizbettini.bsky.social
So much important information in this graph!!
November 13, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
roddy-theobald.bsky.social
Really excited to have this piece out on the Brown Center Chalkboard blog with @lmasonwms.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, & @lizbettini.bsky.social on the importance of targeted solutions to special education teacher staffing challenges. See below!
sparccenter.bsky.social SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 24d
"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...
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 5:39 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
lizbettini.bsky.social
"Varying patterns across states...suggest the need for policy responses targeted to state & local needs."

Check out recent @sparccenter.bsky.social findings, @lmasonwms.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, @roddy-theobald.bsky.social

www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...
November 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
sparccenter.bsky.social
⭐Resource #3: An interactive dashboard exploring the key dimensions of the special education teacher workforce across all our partner states: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
SPARC Data Explorer | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
sparccenter.bsky.social
⭐Resource #2: Eight SPARC Fact Sheets with state-specific summaries: sparccenter.org/resources/sp...
Special Education Teacher Workforce Across Seven States: Key Insights from the SPARC Center's Multi-State Analysis | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
sparccenter.bsky.social
⭐Resource #1: A Working Paper with details of our cross-state analysis of the special education teacher workforce: sparccenter.org/research-fin...
Abstract of SPARC Working Paper No. 01-1025, titled "The Composition, Distribution, and Stability of the Special Education Teacher Workforce in Seven States." The abstract reads: Special education staffing challenges threaten the delivery of effective special education services to students with disabilities. We investigated the composition, distribution, and stability of the special education teacher (SET) workforce over time and across seven states. Some challenges were similar across states, such as trends in SET workforce stability over time, while other challenges (e.g., SET certification rates) varied considerably by state. Staffing challenges also varied within some states, contributing to considerable inequity in SET stability and in the distribution of novice SETs,SETs without full certification, and SETs of color. These findings suggest a need for policies and practices that vary by state context and target the districts and schools most affected by SET staffing challenges.
October 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
afgilmour.bsky.social
It has been such a privilege to conduct this research with such a great team. Check out our first year’s work!
sparccenter.bsky.social SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · Oct 30
📢 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
Promotional graphic for the SPARC Center’s new multi-state analysis resources. It includes a bulleted list detailing the resources, including a working paper, fact sheets with state-specific summaries, and a data visualizer tool.
October 30, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
lizbettini.bsky.social
ICYMI!
lizbettini.bsky.social Liz Bettini @lizbettini.bsky.social · Oct 22
I am recruiting a doc student! I am so excited :-D The student would have opportunities to work on IES & Spencer funded projects focused on strengthening the special ed workforce, including Project RESPECT, Project SUSTAIN, Project ONBOARD, & the SPARC Center. Please share widely! Thanks all!
October 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
estherlindstrom.bsky.social
@afgilmour.bsky.social addresses a major barrier in this line of research: figuring out who special education teachers are from the data.
Dr. Alli Gilmour presents at a conference, standing behind a podium. The projected slide is titled “identifying special educators”
October 11, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
sparccenter.bsky.social
🎓 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
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
lmasonwms.bsky.social
Looking forward to hearing more from my @SPARC_Center collaborators- we’ve learned a lot in a year that can help inform policymakers & practitioners!
aefpweb.bsky.social AEFP @aefpweb.bsky.social · Aug 28
Join the AEFP Policymakers & Practitioners Community Group for an interactive forum on Teacher Shortages & Vacancies in K-12 schools TODAY, from 1-2 EDT! Register today aefpweb.org/ev_calen...
August 28, 2025 at 3:44 PM
afgilmour.bsky.social
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/...
Screen shot of publication abstract.
August 26, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
paul-bruno.com
lfgoooooooooo
August 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
sparccenter.bsky.social
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...
August 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
cedr.bsky.social
New @caldercenter.bsky.social paper alert! We (big group of authors) look at summer school as a pandemic recovery strategy.

What do we find? 👇

caldercenter.org/publications...
Summer School as an Academic Recovery Strategy After COVID-19: Evidence from Summer 2023 | CALDER Center
caldercenter.org
August 1, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
caldercenter.bsky.social
New CALDER report by @roddy-theobald.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, Equia Aniagyei-Cobbold & Marcy Stein analyzes administrative, survey, & interview data related to 7 Attract Prepare Retain projects in PA, all targeting the special educator pipeline.

Read 👉 caldercenter.org/publications...
The Special Education Teacher Pipeline in Pennsylvania: Year 3 Report | CALDER Center
caldercenter.org
July 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Alli Gilmour
sparccenter.bsky.social
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
Impacts of Staff Turnover on Test Scores for Students With and Without Disabilities | CALDER Center
caldercenter.org
July 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
afgilmour.bsky.social
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
Unequal and Maybe Inequitable: Emergency Permitted Special Education Teachers in Pennsylvania | CALDER Center
tinyurl.com
July 17, 2025 at 2:21 PM