Special Education Schools
As a professor or instructor of special education classes at one of the 845 accredited special education schools in the country, you play a iperative role in shaping the education, and, in effect, the future of this growing field. The trends in the special education academic community can be evaluated by looking at the statistics and graphs below, which includes special education training at the following levels:
- Special Education Certificate
- Associates degree in Special Education
- Bachelors degree in Special Education
- Masters degree in Special Education
- PhD degree in Special Education
Statistics
Professional Trends
National Employment growth for Special education professionals
| 353,800 | 361,260 | 373,460 | 374,820 | 226,920 |
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
- Dark Yellow: Actual Values
In the year 2010, there were 226,920 special education professionals working in the US. Between 2006 and 2010, the number of special education professionals has shrunk by 36%.
This decline is faster than the growth for all careers during the same time period. There was a 1% decline for all careers. Over the next 7 years, this trend is expected to contine.
National Salary percentiles for Special education professionals
10th percentile |
$34,690 |
25th percentile |
$42,200 |
50th percentile |
$52,250 |
75th percentile |
$65,730 |
90th percentile |
$81,650 |
Nationally, the median yearly salary earned by special education professionals was $52,250 in 2010. The national median salary for all professions, was $68,155 in the same year. Thus, the median yearly salary for special education professionals in the US was 19% less than the national median salary for all professions.
National Median Salary Growth For Special Education
| $47,345 | $48,995 | $50,680 | $51,925 | $52,250 |
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
- Light Blue: Salaries
Special education professionals' salaries have seen a 10% growth from the year 2006 to the year 2010.
Educational Trends
National Special Education Student enrollment growth by degree
| 1,104 | 555 | 312 | 273 | 318 |
| 15,112 | 7,850 | 7,583 | 7,728 | 8,284 |
| 412 | 247 | 250 | 229 | 234 |
| 31,105 | 16,537 | 16,857 | 17,216 | 16,036 |
| 4,068 | 2,115 | 1,693 | 3,003 | 2,182 |
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
- Yellow: Associate's Degree in Special Education
- Blue: Bachelor's Degree in Special Education
- Red: Doctorates Degree in Special Education
- Light blue: Master's Degree in Special Education
- Grey: Certificate in Special Education
The career outlook for special education professionals is showing a rapid change. However, on the educational front, the story is quite different. In the year 2006 there were 51,801 students who graduated from special education degree programs across the country, while in the year 2010, there were 27,054 students graduating from special education schools.
Thus, in 4 years, there was a 48% decline in the number of special education graduates. This decline in the number of students graduating from special education courses is greater than the 12% growth nationally for students graduating from institutions of higher learning in general.
Special Education Programs offered Nationwide
associate |
57 |
bachelor |
448 |
master |
667 |
doctor |
62 |
Certificate |
194 |
| Total | 1,428 |
It is interesting to note that while student graduation is down, the number of schools offering special education programs has increased. In the year 2006, there were 272 special education schools in the US. And in the year 2010, there were 845 schools.