As the school year kicks off, there are not nearly enough teachers trained to support students with disabilities across much of the country.

A new report from the U.S. Department of Education shows that 39 states and Washington, D.C. have a shortage of special education teachers.

The only states that have not reported shortages in this specialty for the 2024-2025 school year are Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah and Vermont.

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“We do hear that the lack of qualified educators is an ongoing and serious concern,” said Denise Marshall, CEO of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, or COPAA, a nonprofit that advocates for the rights of students with disabilities and their families. “I know that many districts are reallocating resources, finding creative ways to use existing staff and temporary staff, partnering with local community organizations or teacher prep programs, creating para to teacher pathway training and other such strategies.”

The situation does suggest some improvement over this time last year when all but eight states said they lacked enough special educators. Still, some districts have been trying to fill dozens or even hundreds of positions in the weeks leading up to their first day.

Demand for special education is on the rise, with Education Department data showing that a record number of students qualified for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act during the 2022-2023 school year, the most recent year that figures are available.

Marshall said that in cases where services are being provided by someone who is not credentialed, they “must be trained and receive coaching and supervision from a certified special education teacher.”

“Most importantly, districts need to keep parents informed about who is providing instruction and services to their child and keep data on student progress,” she said.

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