A recent article at Yahoo! News illustrates just how dire the situation is with SpEd teacher hiring. Nationwide, SpEd has the not only the most unfilled vacancies, but those vacancies remain open the longest. The article notes that for persistent shortage areas, like STEM and SpEd, a long-term, durable, and statewide response response is necessary.
You don’t have to tell me this. I see it where I am. There are a ton of openings. Plus, I had no trouble getting a summer school assignment as a SpEd teacher. They’re in high need.
But, California remains one of the hardest places to become a teacher. To get to the classroom, I had to take / pass the three-part CBEST test. That one’s like a “high school exit exam.” Then, during my internship with an accredited teacher college (quite expensive), I had to take / pass the three-part CSET multi-subject test. That one eliminates 1/3 to 1/2 of potential candidates. I remember classmates crying about not being able to pass one or more parts of the CSET test, and thus not being able to continue. Then, within the first five years of teaching I have to take / pass the three-part RICA. This one is a test on “the Science of Reading.” I’ll begin working on studying for it in the fall. Essentially, we have to take / pass 9 tests … and pay for them all at our own expense, roughly $1,000 in total. If I count the cost of the study guides / prep-courses, that figure is about $2500 for me. These “extra” costs can’t come from federal student aid - but are part of the “autism tax” in my case.
So, it’s no wonder that there are so many openings.
Help Wanted (still) - SpEd Teachers
Help Wanted (still) - SpEd Teachers
Help Wanted (still) - SpEd Teachers
A recent article at Yahoo! News illustrates just how dire the situation is with SpEd teacher hiring. Nationwide, SpEd has the not only the most unfilled vacancies, but those vacancies remain open the longest. The article notes that for persistent shortage areas, like STEM and SpEd, a long-term, durable, and statewide response response is necessary.
You don’t have to tell me this. I see it where I am. There are a ton of openings. Plus, I had no trouble getting a summer school assignment as a SpEd teacher. They’re in high need.
But, California remains one of the hardest places to become a teacher. To get to the classroom, I had to take / pass the three-part CBEST test. That one’s like a “high school exit exam.” Then, during my internship with an accredited teacher college (quite expensive), I had to take / pass the three-part CSET multi-subject test. That one eliminates 1/3 to 1/2 of potential candidates. I remember classmates crying about not being able to pass one or more parts of the CSET test, and thus not being able to continue. Then, within the first five years of teaching I have to take / pass the three-part RICA. This one is a test on “the Science of Reading.” I’ll begin working on studying for it in the fall. Essentially, we have to take / pass 9 tests … and pay for them all at our own expense, roughly $1,000 in total. If I count the cost of the study guides / prep-courses, that figure is about $2500 for me. These “extra” costs can’t come from federal student aid - but are part of the “autism tax” in my case.
So, it’s no wonder that there are so many openings.