Visualizing Washington's Teacher Workforce
Understanding the trends impacting teacher recruitment and retention
Special Education Students
Understanding how well the teaching workforce is meeting the needs of students identified for special education services
Key Findings
- In 2016/17, 14 percent of students in Washington state were students with special needs (the national average was 13 percent).
- Most districts had fewer than 30 students with special needs per special education teacher.
Each year between 2011/12 and 2016/17, about 50 percent of districts in Washington had a student population that included 12 to 17 percent of students with special needs.
LEGEND: Percentage of students with special needs
<12% | 12–17% | >12%
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Report Card, 2011/12–2016/17.
Several districts in western and southwestern Washington frequently had a student population that included more than 20 percent students with special needs between 2011/12 and 2016/17. Other districts throughout the state often had a student population that included less than 10 percent students with special needs during the same period.
The number of students with special needs per certified special education teacher has usually been fewer than 30 in most districts.
LEGEND: Number of students with special needs per certified special education teacher
<15 | 15–29 | >30 | No students with special needs reported | No special special education teachers reported
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Report Card and S-275 Personnel Reporting, 2011/12–2016/17.
On average, in 2016/17, Washington districts enrolled 23 students with special needs for every licensed special education teacher they employed. Washington state has reported a shortage of special education teachers every year between 2000/01 and 2017/18. Recent efforts to fill special education teaching positions have focused on paraeducators and other existing school staff members. In 2017, the state Legislature passed a bill to strengthen instructional training for paraeducators in their schools and to facilitate pathways for paraeducators and other school staff members to become licensed teachers.
Questions to Consider
How are special education teachers distributed among schools within districts? Are equitable caseloads maintained within districts?
What state and local supports or interventions might help make caseloads more equitable for districts that typically have higher numbers of students with special needs per special education teacher?
Key Findings
- In 2016/17, 14 percent of students in Washington state were students with special needs (the national average was 13 percent).
- Most districts had fewer than 30 students with special needs per special education teacher.
Each year between 2011/12 and 2016/17, about 50 percent of districts in Washington had a student population that included 12 to 17 percent of students with special needs.
LEGEND: Percentage of students with special needs
<12% | 12–17% | >12%
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Report Card, 2011/12–2016/17.
Several districts in western and southwestern Washington frequently had a student population that included more than 20 percent students with special needs between 2011/12 and 2016/17. Other districts throughout the state often had a student population that included less than 10 percent students with special needs during the same period.
The number of students with special needs per certified special education teacher has usually been fewer than 30 in most districts.
LEGEND: Number of students with special needs per certified special education teacher
<15 | 15–29 | >30 | No students with special needs reported | No special special education teachers reported
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Report Card and S-275 Personnel Reporting, 2011/12–2016/17.
On average, in 2016/17, Washington districts enrolled 23 students with special needs for every licensed special education teacher they employed. Washington state has reported a shortage of special education teachers every year between 2000/01 and 2017/18. Recent efforts to fill special education teaching positions have focused on paraeducators and other existing school staff members. In 2017, the state Legislature passed a bill to strengthen instructional training for paraeducators in their schools and to facilitate pathways for paraeducators and other school staff members to become licensed teachers.
Questions to Consider
How are special education teachers distributed among schools within districts? Are equitable caseloads maintained within districts?
What state and local supports or interventions might help make caseloads more equitable for districts that typically have higher numbers of students with special needs per special education teacher?