Switching Into and Out of Special Education Teacher (SET) Positions: Evidence from Texas Public Schools

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Saturday 1:45 pm
  In Poster Session: Switching Into and Out of Special Education Teacher (SET) Positions: Evidence from Texas

Abstract

Special education teachers (SETs) are critical to supporting students with disabilities, yet districts face persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining them. This study uses over 30 years of administrative data from Texas to examine patterns of switching into and out of SET roles. We analyze trends by race, sex, and job type and estimate discrete-time hazard models to identify individual and school-level predictors of these transitions. Findings indicate that aides and ESL teachers are common sources for SET entry, while SETs often transition to general education roles. These and other switching patterns highlight both instability in the SET workforce and opportunities to strengthen staffing pipelines.

Authors

• Frank Perrone, Indiana University-Bloomington

• Andrew Pendola, Auburn University

• Hannah Morris Mathews, University of Florida