RE: Attracting Special Ed teachers

Catherine,
I agree with you in that we are losing special ed teachers due to many of the reasons you pointed out.  The problem that the Master Plan needs to address is to identify special students by either types or disability. Once we have the categories then programs can be developed to train the teachers to meet those needs.  Administrative response to your concerns has been to reclassify students into basically two categories: mild to moderate, moderate to severe. By doing this, the state only has to issue only two credentials.  Unfortunately, these quick and easy credentials allow new teachers to be placed in a situation where they have had little or no training and perhaps little or no interest in the type of disability they have to work with due to their credential. We need some way to insure a regular or special ed. teacher will be able to work in the area of their interest where they will probably do a better job rather than an area they have to serve due to their credential.

You have also brought up an interesting side question -- who comes up with these new credentials and why?  Should the Master Plan allow for hearings among working professionals in the field regarding the development of new credentials?