DPI Launches Wisconsin Special Educator Induction Program

By Barb Van Haren, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

The nation is facing staffing challenges in education and Wisconsin is no exception. Special education often experiences the greatest shortage among educators. Special Education was reported most frequently as having staffing shortages (over 50%). (DPI Survey, August 2022). According to the  Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR Center), up to 50% of new special educators are more likely than experienced educators to leave their jobs in the first few years. Yet, first-year educators who participated in a comprehensive set of induction activities were half as likely to leave the field as those who did not participate. (Strong & Ingersoll, 2004) New special education educators who have strong induction support report that their roles are manageable and believe that they are successful in helping students with IEP goals. (Billingsley, B., Griffin, C., Smith, S.J., Kamman, M., & Israel, M., 2009).

As staffing challenges impact the field, the special education team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has prioritized assisting school districts in attracting, preparing, and retaining special educators and has dedicated federal funds to develop an induction program. The new statewide Wisconsin Special Educator Induction Program is comprised of three essential components:

• Six sessions of professional learning based on evidence-based instructional practices and special education requirements

• Six sessions of individualized coaching to support application of the professional learning

• Six support network sessions to build emotional resilience and problem-solving skills

The program was introduced in the spring of 2023. A Design Team of content experts representing  six regional Cooperative Education Service Agencies (CESAs) was assembled to develop consistent and statewide training materials and resources. The content is based on the Council of Exceptional Children’s (CEC) High Leverage Practices (HLP) and DPI’s learning resources on special education requirements. Using a Training of Trainers model, the Design Team trained twelve professional development specialists on specific special education content over an eight day period this summer.  

In addition, 24 coaches/facilitators participated in the summer’s learning series based on Wisconsin’s coaching competencies. Each CESA has a three member team (one trainer and two coaches/facilitators) to deliver consistent and statewide professional learning, coaching and support to 300 new special educators statewide. 

All Wisconsin school districts and independent charter schools were invited to nominate potential new special educators to participate in the program. CESAs selected 25 participants in each of the 12 regions based on need. Districts will receive up to $1,500 per participant who completes the program to offset costs associated with participating in the induction activities. Many CESA teams will be meeting with special education and building leaders to provide more information about the program and its content, such as the HLP Leadership Guides.

The program does not lead to certification or DPI licensure, but is intended to complement existing educator preparation programs or other licensure pathways. Artifacts gathered during participation in the induction program may be utilized as evidence for a district profile.

During the induction program’s nascent year, information will be collected from trainers, coaches/facilitators, and new special educator participants to assess the effectiveness of the program and its impact on teacher retention. The program will continue in 2024-25 and if supported by data, we hope to continue and expand  in the future.

Increasing the retention and effectiveness of Wisconsin’s new special educators will ultimately lead to successful outcomes for our state’s students with disabilities.