This report complements existing national and state research and policy recommendations regarding educator preparation, retention, and shortages by focusing explicitly on opportunities to increase the number of prepared special education and ESL teachers entering and remaining in the Tennessee educator workforce.

Special educators often have extremely busy schedules! It can be challenging to find ways to get everything done during the school day. Use this tool for ideas on how to effectively manage your time to maximize efficiency.

Before we embark in co-teaching, it is important for co-teachers to establish strong rapport and norms within the shared classroom. This tool provides a template for teachers to engage in this trust-building process.

Co-teaching is a widespread instructional practice to support diverse learners and their peers in the general education classroom. What are some of the commonly used co-teaching models and how can we prepare for them in our co-taught classroom? Check out this tool to find out.

By focusing on focal students, teachers engage in more inclusive instructional planning that benefits all students. This tool provides a framework for this process, offering specific student scenarios, strategies, and tools.

Diverse Learners Cooperative facilitated a study of diverse learner teacher retention across the state of Tennessee. The goal of this effort was to pinpoint factors that influence a special education or English learner educator to enter, remain, or leave the classroom role. Use this resource to build awareness and understanding, leverage recommendations to improve practice, and advocate for better on behalf of all teachers.