What challenges do rural schools face related to special education?
Teacher retention is a challenge in rural communities, and it can be particularly difficult to attract and keep special education teachers. Some things that may improve teacher retention in rural areas include providing support to new teachers, offering higher salaries, and developing local talent. For more information about rural teacher recruitment and retention, see Recruiting and Retaining High-Quality Teachers in Rural Areas. Rural schools may also find it more difficult to pay for assistive technology. The school budget does not need to be the only source of funding for providing needed equipment. Other funding possibilities include vocational rehabilitation, the state department of education, local civic organizations and local businesses. Another option to consider is finding sources to borrow special materials or technology. Contact your state department of education to find out if a lending service is available in your area.
