A Persistent Challenge: Staffing Special Education Programs in Rural Schools

Historically, rural school districts have experienced limited success in providing for the needs of students requiring specialized services. This study assesses the adequacy of the rural special education labor pool in Washington by applying a process suggested by Helge and Marrs (1982). Results suggest that rural school districts face a worsening shortage ofspecial educationpersonnel due primarily to an inability to attract qualified personnel to rural regions. Consistent with previous results reported by Bogenschild, Lauritzen, and Metzke (1988), no significant difference in attrition rates exists between rural andurban special educators. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in attrition rates does exist, however, between special educators and general educators working in rural areas. The paperalso reports the results ofinterviews with specialeducationpersonnel in 29 school districts and one educational service district that sought to identify successful strategies being used in rural school districts to: (a) improve their ability to attract special education personnel, and (b) lower attrition rates among specieteducators.

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