Understanding the Special Education Teacher Pipeline in Hawaii: How Characteristics, Motivations, and Program Preferences Influenced Enrollment Outcomes Among Targeted Populations
Date
2022
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Abstract
Although Hawai‘i suffers from a chronic teacher shortage similar to the rest of the country, thereare variables that make Hawai‘i’s dilemma unique. Between 2015–2020, there were over 1,000 teaching
positions unfilled, with more than a third of positions being specific to special education (HIDOE
Employment Reports, 2015–2020). In 2019, the Hawai‘i DOE reported 94% of their teachers as highly
qualified, however, that percentage dropped to 84% for the field of special education. One of the primary
drivers of the teacher shortage is teacher attrition. In Hawai‘i, attrition accounts for about 88% of the
annual demand and is caused most by teachers who leave the profession prematurely and many
choosing to leave the state. Attrition rates are doubled for teachers who were not trained by a local
teacher education program. The College of Education at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) is the
largest local producer of newly certified teachers in the state each year. The targeted population for this
study were 959 individuals who had started an application to a UHM special education teacher
preparation program between 2015–2020. This mixed-methods exploratory sequential design study (qual
→ QUAN) examined applicant characteristics, motivations for entry, and program preferences. A subanalysis
determined if significant differences in motivations or preferences existed among targeted
subgroups currently underrepresented in the teacher workforce in Hawai‘i (i.e., nontraditional, male,
minority, geographically isolated). As a final analysis, all variables were examined to determine if
characteristics, motivations, or preferences impacted enrollment outcomes. This study served to better
understand who expressed interest in pursuing the special education profession and why, as well as,
to better understand what they wanted in a program in order to pursue it.
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Special education, Education, Teacher education, enrollment, motivations, preferences, shortage, special education
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236 pages
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