A comparative study of the characteristics & qualifications of novice unendorsed and endorsed special education teachers in Virginia

Critical teacher shortages in special education have led to revisions in certification and licensure policies in some states and implementation of initiatives to attract special education teachers in other states. Some of these revisions have allowed unendorsed teachers to be assigned to special education classrooms. The reliance on unendorsed teachers to fill special education vacancies means those working with students with the greatest educational needs may have the least amount of training or teaching experience. However, there have been no investigations of unendorsed special education teachers.