iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alli Gilmour @afgilmour.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I’m super proud of the work of this team! (This publication feels extra special given my long history of rejections from AERJ 😆)

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

📢The American Educational Research Journal (AERJ) has published the findings from our first year of analysis. The paper explores the composition, distribution, and stability of the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce. Read here: doi.org/10.3102/0002...

Paper in American Educational Research Journal: "Composition, Distribution, and Stability of the Special Education Teacher Workforce in Seven States."

The abstract reads: Special education staffing challenges threaten the delivery of effective special education services to students with disabilities. We investigated the composition, distribution, and stability of the special education teacher (SET) workforce over time and across seven states. Some challenges were similar across states, such as trends in SET workforce stability over time, whereas other challenges (e.g., SET certification rates) varied considerably by state. Staffing challenges also varied within some states, contributing to considerable inequity in SET stability and in the distribution of novice SETs, SETs without full certification, and SETs of color. These findings suggest a need for policies and practices that vary by state context and target the districts and schools most affected by SET staffing challenges.

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

📅 March 20 | 8:15–9:45 am 📍 Montreux 3 💡 Understanding Special Education Identification and Services with @afgilmour.bsky.social 💥

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Cara Jackson @carajackson.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Very cool opportunity for early career researchers interested in special education research: Apply for access to at least one statewide longitudinal dataset with support from SPARC researchers to conduct a co-developed study on the special education workforce. sparccenter.org/sparc-center...

sparccenter.org

SPARC Center Scholars Program | SPARC Center

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

📢Just launched: the SPARC Center Scholars Program! This program aims to support early career scholars in conducting rigorous research on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce. Learn more and apply by May 1: sparccenter.org/sparc-center...

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Alli Gilmour @afgilmour.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

This is an excellent paper and a must read for those concerned about turnover in schools!

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Roddy Theobald @roddy-theobald.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

I'm excited to be presenting work funded by @sparccenter.bsky.social and co-authored with @lizbettini.bsky.social and @afgilmour.bsky.social at the CALDER Conference in early March! Registration details below!

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

💡“The unique thing about Pennsylvania is they decided to do as many things as they can at once, addressing each part of the [special education teacher] pipeline.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social Read how Pennsylvania supports its #SpecialEducation workforce: www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

edweek.org

Inside One State's Bold Plan to Keep Special Education Teachers

Pennsylvania's training and mentoring program works to retain teachers serving students with disabilities.

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

“Delivering effective #SpecialEducation involves collecting data, monitoring progress, and making instructional changes when progress stalls or falters.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social Alli’s recent article in Education Next reflects on 50 years of #IDEA: www.educationnext.org/idea-at-50-l...

educationnext.org

IDEA at 50

The landmark federal law ensured access for students with disabilities. Now it’s time to focus on outcomes.

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Education Next @educationnext.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

IDEA at 50: The landmark federal law ensured access for students with disabilities. Now it’s time to focus on outcomes. bit.ly/44DcDrU

bit.ly

IDEA at 50

The landmark federal law ensured access for students with disabilities. Now it’s time to focus on outcomes.

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Alli Gilmour @afgilmour.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Can we please stop having conferences on Saturday?

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Alli Gilmour @afgilmour.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

I love this paper. If you study special education teachers, or support special education teachers, you need to read it!

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

🔍Our new Working Paper uses consistent variables across states. Leveraging Common Education Data Standards and Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems enables meaningful cross-state comparisons of the #SpecialEducation Teacher workforce. Read more: sparccenter.org/research-fin...

sparccenter.org

The Composition, Distribution, and Stability of the Special Education Teacher Workforce in Seven States | SPARC Center

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Alli Gilmour @afgilmour.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

This is such a fun resource! You can play with the data and examine trends within and across states

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

💡“Our shortages aren’t really from not having enough people; it’s having people teaching the wrong thing.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social Check out this article from Education Week which features research from our recent working paper on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

"As we have demonstrated, different states face different #SpecialEducation teacher turnover problems. This suggests that the most promising solutions might vary across states." Read more about our recent findings in our article with @brookings.edu: www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...

brookings.edu

States face different special education staffing challenges that require targeted responses | Brookings

Special education teacher turnover varies by state, calling for targeted, locally informed policy solutions.

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Liz Bettini @lizbettini.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

So much important information in this graph!!

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Roddy Theobald @roddy-theobald.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Really excited to have this piece out on the Brown Center Chalkboard blog with @lmasonwms.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, & @lizbettini.bsky.social on the importance of targeted solutions to special education teacher staffing challenges. See below!

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Liz Bettini @lizbettini.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

"Varying patterns across states...suggest the need for policy responses targeted to state & local needs." Check out recent @sparccenter.bsky.social findings, @lmasonwms.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, @roddy-theobald.bsky.social www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

⭐Resource #3: An interactive dashboard exploring the key dimensions of the special education teacher workforce across all our partner states: sparccenter.org/data-explore...

sparccenter.org

SPARC Data Explorer | SPARC Center

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

⭐Resource #1: A Working Paper with details of our cross-state analysis of the special education teacher workforce: sparccenter.org/research-fin...

Abstract of SPARC Working Paper No. 01-1025, titled "The Composition, Distribution, and Stability of the Special Education Teacher Workforce in Seven States."

The abstract reads: Special education staffing challenges threaten the delivery of effective special education services to students with disabilities. We investigated the composition, distribution, and stability of the special education teacher (SET) workforce over time and across seven states. Some challenges were similar across states, such as trends in SET workforce stability over time, while other challenges (e.g., SET certification rates) varied considerably by state. Staffing challenges also varied within some states, contributing to considerable inequity in SET stability and in the distribution of novice SETs,SETs without full certification, and SETs of color. These findings suggest a need for policies and practices that vary by state context and target the districts and schools most affected by SET staffing challenges.

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Alli Gilmour @afgilmour.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

It has been such a privilege to conduct this research with such a great team. Check out our first year’s work!

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Liz Bettini @lizbettini.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

ICYMI!

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Esther Lindström @estherlindstrom.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

@afgilmour.bsky.social addresses a major barrier in this line of research: figuring out who special education teachers are from the data.

Dr. Alli Gilmour presents at a conference, standing behind a podium. The projected slide is titled “identifying special educators”

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

🎓 Is having a dual-certification in #SpecialEducation and general education better than having one certification? SPARC Center co-director @afgilmour.bsky.social and Tiffany Lam reviewed the research to learn more on this topic: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

journals.sagepub.com

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

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Loretta (Lucky) Mason-Williams @lmasonwms.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Looking forward to hearing more from my @SPARC_Center collaborators- we’ve learned a lot in a year that can help inform policymakers & practitioners!

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Alli Gilmour @afgilmour.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

Excited to share a new publication with co-author Tiffany Lam- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Dual-Certification in Special Education and General Education. Read the full paper here- journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

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Paul Bruno @paul-bruno.com · 12/08/2025

lfgoooooooooo

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Join SPARC Center Director @roddy-theobald.bsky.social and Co-Director @afgilmour.bsky.social on August 13 at 11am ET for a free, virtual event hosted by the PROGRESS Center! Register: promotingprogress.org/events/prepp...

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Dan Goldhaber @cedr.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

New @caldercenter.bsky.social paper alert! We (big group of authors) look at summer school as a pandemic recovery strategy. What do we find? 👇 caldercenter.org/publications...

caldercenter.org

Summer School as an Academic Recovery Strategy After COVID-19: Evidence from Summer 2023 | CALDER Center

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CALDER Center @caldercenter.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

New CALDER report by @roddy-theobald.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, Equia Aniagyei-Cobbold & Marcy Stein analyzes administrative, survey, & interview data related to 7 Attract Prepare Retain projects in PA, all targeting the special educator pipeline. Read 👉 caldercenter.org/publications...

caldercenter.org

The Special Education Teacher Pipeline in Pennsylvania: Year 3 Report | CALDER Center

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Alli Gilmour @afgilmour.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Excited to share a new working paper with Bluesky-less Equia Aniagyei-Cobbold and @roddy-theobald.bsky.social : Unequal and Maybe Inequitable: Emergency Permitted Special Education Teachers in Pennsylvania Read it here- tinyurl.com/372h4bcy

tinyurl.com

Unequal and Maybe Inequitable: Emergency Permitted Special Education Teachers in Pennsylvania | CALDER Center

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

New research on #SpecialEducation Personnel Attrition with PA Dept. of Ed shows: ➡️Admins leave more than teachers ➡️Higher attrition among Black educators, urban settings, and more diverse districts ➡️Retention must be role- & context-specific Learn more: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...

journals.sagepub.com

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

There's a #SpecialEducation teacher shortage—but defining and identifying special education teachers varies by state and system. We’re unpacking the complexity in our upcoming webinar. 🗓️ June 26 at 3pm ET 🔗 Register: sparccenter.org/events/regis...

Upcoming Webinar: Using State Longitudinal Data Systems to Study Special Education Teachers

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Lindsey Kaler @lindseykaler.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

New @caldercenter.bsky.social WP! A study from my dissertation, w/ @roddy-theobald.bsky.social, @natejones.bsky.social‬, & @lizbettini.bsky.social. We find staff turnover matters for SWDs. Ungated WP & one pager: • Working paper: tinyurl.com/j3rykkp9 • One-pager: tinyurl.com/bddtzxtp

Abstract of CALDER working paper, Impacts of Staff Turnover on Test Scores for Students with and without Disabilities."

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Alli Gilmour @afgilmour.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

There will never be an obituary that can adequately capture all that Lynn Fuchs was as a scholar, mentor, and just wonderful human being. I’m grateful she was in my life. www.specialeducationtoday.com/p/lynn-s-fuc...

specialeducationtoday.com

Lynn S. Fuchs, 1950-2025

A giant among giants passed away

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Laura Helmuth @laurahelmuth.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

A lot of great people doing important work just lost their jobs because the most destructive, bigoted, willfully ignorant people in the world have targeted them. Here's what you can do to support yourself or anyone you know who lost a job. Please add your own advice at the end of the thread <1/n>

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Cara Jackson @carajackson.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

"IES data remain an essential source of basic information about the operation of K–12 and pre-school programs." www.educationnext.org/doge-targets...

educationnext.org

DOGE Targets Agency That Funds One-Third of Key Education Research

Above all, IES’s critical data collection operations need to be preserved

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The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 20/03/2025

Gutting the Department of Education would deliver a terrible blow to public schools, and have an immediate and tangible impact on students with disabilities.

newyorker.com

What the Assault on Public Education Means for Kids with Disabilities

The future of the Department of Education may hinge on the world views of two billionaires who abhor what they perceive as weakness and waste.

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Andrew Ho @andrewdeanho.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Research with restricted-use data is more precise, powerful, and relevant. Faculty and staff will be working through the weekend to answer important research questions before we no longer can. This is not normal, necessary, or efficient.

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American Institutes for Research @airinforms.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

A Statement from Jessica Heppen, AIR President & CEO: “Like many organizations, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) has had to make difficult decisions in response to recent federal funding cuts, including reducing our workforce by 18%. (1/4)

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SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

What an inspiring day at the SPARC Center Launch Event! 🎉 Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared ideas on how we can collaborate to drive transformation in #SpecialEducation. Excited for the journey ahead to create lasting change for educators and students! 🙌

SPARC Leadership and Advisory Board gathering.

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Liz Bettini @lizbettini.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Hey, have you registered yet for Tuesday's SPARC launch?? We'll be sharing descriptive results from our cross-state study of the composition, distribution, and stability of the special education workforce- come join us!!

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