Implications of Loosening Federal Oversight for Special Education Teacher Preparation - A Rapid Evidence Review

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle

A rapid evidence review examines how debates about scaling back federal oversight under IDEA could affect state policies on special education teacher preparation. IDEA generally requires bachelor’s degrees and full special education certification or equivalent licensure, without permitting emergency, temporary, or provisional staffing. With persistent nationwide teacher shortages, states may face pressure to relax requirements, potentially increasing inequities and weakening protections for students with disabilities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Why This Issue Requires Urgent Attention

Overview

State efforts to address teacher shortages

Implications of Loosening Federal Oversight for Special Education Teacher Preparation A RAPID EVIDENCE REVIEW Aly n Turner, PhD , Research for Action Cara Jackson, PhD , Center for Outcomes Based Research April 2026 Why This Issue Requires Urgent Attention Current debates about scaling back federal oversight of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) make this an especially critical moment for states to understand the implications of special education teacher preparation reforms. IDEA generally requires public school special education teachers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree and full state special education certification or equivalent state licensure. As it stands now, states may not waive these requirements on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis, and teachers in alternative preparation routes must still meet IDEA’s standards within a defined period (Office of Special Education Programs, 2022) . However, many states are confronting significant and persistent teacher shortages, particularly in special education, where vacancies remain among the highest nationally (Sutcher et al. , 2016) . • During the 2022-23 school year, 21% of schools reported at least one vacancy in special education, and 55% of schools reported it was difficult to fill special education teacher positions (Gilmour et al., n.d.) • A nationwide survey of schools in 2022 reported that vacancies in special education were nearly double that of other subject areas. This survey also found that 65% of public schools in the United States reported being understaffed in special education. (Bodenhamer, 2023) • Data collected in August 2024 by IES found that 72% of public schools with vacancies in special education had difficulty filling the position with a fully certified teacher for the upcoming school year. (U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 2025) If federal accountability mechanisms through IDEA diminish, states may face increased pressure to relax certification and licensure requirements to address special education workforce shortages. Without strong guardrails, these shifts could accelerate inequities and leave students with disabilities disproportionately served by underprepared educators, making it more difficult to uphold the instructional and legal protections guaranteed under IDEA. In this context, state-level decisions about certification and licensure flexibility and teacher pipeline investments carry heightened and long-lasting consequences. Overview Year after year, nearly all states report to the U.S. Department of Education that they are experiencing special education teacher shortages, which challenge schools’ability to meet legal obligations under IDEA to provide a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities (Learning Policy Institute, 2025) . Special education teacher shortages arise from multiple factors: fewer candidates completing special-education preparation programs, high attrition among special educators, and growth in the number of students receiving special-education services (National Council on Teacher Quality, 2025). According to the American Association for Employment in Education’s most recent Educator Supply and Demand Survey, colleges, universities, and school districts nationwide consistently report considerable shortages across nearly all 11 special education subfields (American Association for Employment in Education, 2024) . In July 2024, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report based onsite visits to 32 entities (state education agencies, school districts, and special education organizations) across four states, where they explored access to resources, including trained staff and educators, for students with disabilities (GAO, 2024) . All 32 entities said personnel shortages were a key obstacle to educating students with disabilities. Districts reported shortages not just for special education teachers, but also speechlangua

FAQs

What does IDEA generally require for special education teacher preparation?

IDEA generally requires public school special education teachers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree and full state special education certification or equivalent state licensure.

Why is federal oversight under IDEA considered urgent at this moment?

Because current debates about scaling back federal oversight could push states to relax certification and licensure requirements to address shortages, risking accelerated inequities for students with disabilities.

What shortages are discussed, and how do they affect staffing?

The review highlights persistent shortages in special education and related roles, driven by limited candidates, attrition, and growth in students needing services, leading to delayed or reduced supports.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle