Special Education Teacher Retention and Attrition: A Critical Analysis of the Literature

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Literature Review.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................8 Literature Review Results................................... .....................................................................................................................................................12 A Critique of Definitions, Conceptual Models, and Methodologies Used to Study Attrition................................................................................................................................................................................................................................29 Priorities for Research....................................................................................................................................................................................................34 Summary and Implications.....................................................................................................................................................................................37 REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38 APPENDIX. Special Education Attrition and Retention Studies..............................................................43 FIGURES Figure 1. Schematic Representation of Special Education Teacher Retention, Transfer, and Attrition...........................................................................................................................................................................................7 Figure 2. A Conceptual Model of the Influences of Teachers’ Career Decisions............................................................................................................................................................................................................................10 Figure 3. Conceptual Model for Understanding Teacher Attrition and Retention.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................11 Figure 4. Path Diagram for Intent To Stay......................................................................................................................19