North Carolina Study Tackles Special Education Vacancies

Researchers launch a four-year project to improve working conditions and retention for special education teachers.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Special Education

North Carolina Study Tackles Special Education Vacancies

Live Poll

Do you believe staffing shortages in your local schools are negatively affecting special education services?

Researchers have launched a four-year, $1.34 million study into the working conditions of exceptional children teachers in North Carolina. The project aims to identify school-level factors that can improve retention for educators and outcomes for the state's 190,000 students with disabilities.

Why it matters

Staffing shortages have reached a critical point in North Carolina, with 1,544 exceptional children teaching positions left vacant during the 2023-24 school year. Improving these conditions is essential for supporting educator well-being and maintaining consistent instruction for students.

The study analyzes data from 2,500 schools across all 115 North Carolina districts, including input from 13,000 educators. This research follows a 2024 survey where 75% of educators identified the special education teacher pipeline as stressed.

The players

Education Policy Initiative at Carolina

A research group focused on analyzing state educational policies and their effects on student and teacher outcomes.

Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute

A research center at UNC-Chapel Hill dedicated to improving child development and family well-being through evidence-based practices.

Institute of Education Sciences

The independent research, evaluation, and statistics arm of the U.S. Department of Education.

The details

The research team from the Education Policy Initiative at Carolina and the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute will utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods. They will analyze three years of administrative data from the Department of Public Instruction alongside the state's Teacher Working Conditions Survey. Additionally, researchers will conduct interviews with 120 administrators and educators across 18 schools to pinpoint malleable factors that districts can adjust to improve teacher retention.

1990: The US Department of Education began collecting special education staffing data.
2023-24 school year: North Carolina experienced a 28% increase in special education teacher vacancies.
2024: 70% of public schools nationwide reported special education teacher vacancies.
October 2026: The four-year research study officially launches.

The Home Front

This research addresses the growing shortage of special education staff, a trend affecting 70% of public schools nationwide. By focusing on district-level conditions, the study seeks to mitigate the impact of widespread vacancies on local school stability.

Parents of students with disabilities should check their local district's school board meeting schedule to stay informed on staffing discussions. Families can also monitor future updates from the study to see if their school district implements new policies aimed at educator retention.

The takeaway

The four-year research project underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to support North Carolina's special education teachers. Families concerned about school staffing stability should track their district's progress through official school board communications and future reports from the study.