The Oregon Special Education Recruitment and Retention project is undertaking an informal, bi-monthly survey of open special education positions being advertised on Oregon school district and ESD websites. The number of open positions being advertised after the start of school appears to accurately gauge the extent of the personnel shortage in special education.

• In late September, 2007 - 291 open positions advertised. 58% of all openings were for special education instructional assistants.
• By mid-November, 2007 - open positions had declined to 167. 48% being for special education instructional assistants.
• By early February, 2008 - open positions had dropped slightly to 149, with nearly 40% being for special education instructional assistants (59).

The July strategy briefs for both recruitment and retention feature articles from the Center on Personnel Studies in Special Education

RETENTION: Center on Personnel Studies in Special Education - Executive Summary
New Teacher Induction in Special Education, September 2003.
by Cynthia C. Griffin, Judith A. Winn, Amy Otis-Wilborn, and Karen L. Kilgore

This article summarizes critical concerns regarding new teacher induction programs.

Available full-text on the COPSSE website at http://www.coe.ufl.edu/copsse/library/executive-summaries.php

RECRUITMENT:Center on Personnel Studies in Special Education - Workforce Watch, February 2004
Diversifying the Special Education Workforce—It Starts with Recruitment into Teacher Preparation Programs

This article describes challenges faced by individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds as they enter teacher education programs.

Available full-text on the COPSSE website http://www.coe.ufl.edu/copsse/research-focus-areas/teacher-preparation-quality.php.

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