An Examination of Personnel Needs and Requirements in Special Education Programs in Alabama, 1986-91.

This study examined the teacher personnel needs of special education programs in Alabama utilizing data from a survey of the 130 local education agencies and the annual child count of students enrolled in special education classes. Data are presented in narrative and tabular form and address, first, personnel shortages and deficiencies according to location within the state and by category of exceptionality; and, second, personnel needs and requirements as they relate to the future staffing of special education programs. Included is information on historical changes in the numbers of special education students and teachers, current teacher-pupil ratios, the number of out-of-field teachers, vacant positions, the demographic characteristics of special education teachers, and the number of persons graduating from teacher training programs. Among conclusions are that though the number of special education students has increased by 3.3 percent over the last 5 years, the number of teachers has declined by 0.4 percent; that about 11 percent of all special education teachers are currently teaching under out-of-field penalty waivers; and that most of the need is concentrated in rural districts. (DB)