Examining the Effectiveness of a Special Eduation Residency Program in Increasing the Recruitment and Retention of Teachers in Urban Schools

This study examined the long-term impact of a special education residency program in high-need urban schools on the recruitment, program completion, and hiring and retention of graduates. Findings from this study, expanding research to special education teacher preparation, are consistent with a growing body of research that suggests that a well-designed and well-implemented teacher residency program can have great promise in recruiting and retaining effective teachers for hard-to-staff schools. However, findings also indicate significant challenges in implementing residency programs and evaluating their effectiveness. We discuss the implications of these findings for special education residency programs and teacher preparation overall.