Ameliorating the Special Education Teacher Crisis: Systems Thinking and Innovative Approaches

Chronic and pervasive special education teacher (SET) shortages have interfered with state, district, school efforts to recruit retain effective teachers for students disabilities. Unfortunately, these worsened post-pandemic due early retirements, low unemployment rates, career changes. The purpose of this article is provide a systems thinking (ST) framework help stakeholders consider the complex interacting in which occur (i.e., preparation, district schools, society). We specific elements within systems, their interconnections, focus on identifying steps ideas can use understand contributors shortage crisis, while providing strategies innovative greater sustainability. also offer real examples ST solutions used programs, other professions. To further bolster ST, we conclude innovations outside bridge concepts into potential pathways address SET shortages.