United in Preparing the Prepared: Insights from the 2024 State of the Special Education Profession Survey for Higher Education

Dr. Jennifer Lesh, associate professor in the College of Education and 2020 past president of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), joined 2019 former president Mary Lynn Boscardin and current president Julie Bost. Together, they presented their findings from the 2024 State of the Special Education Profession Survey at the CEC Teacher Education Division conference. Their session, "United in Preparing the Prepared," highlighted urgent challenges and opportunities in higher education teacher preparation programs for special education professionals.

Lesh, also a co-chair of the survey design team, shared responses from 238 higher education faculty nationwide. Key findings revealed concerns in educator preparation, including:

Limited training in Individualized Education Plan (IEP) developmentLack of readiness to support mental health and behavioral needsInsufficient system-wide support for inclusive practices

The presentation highlighted systemic inequities, structural inconsistencies and the need for enhanced preparation and leadership development. Conducted in collaboration with CEC leaders, the 2024 survey is the third in a series and can help inform national policy and shape how universities prepare special educators.