The researcher compared data of the number of general education teachers, special education interventionists, and paraprofessionals or teaching assistants in each district. These numbers would be used to account for data such as special education teacher caseloads, ratio of special education paraprofessionals serving students with disabilities and data such as FTE (full time equivalency) receiving special education services. FTE refers to the full-time student count in the Ohio EMIS report, which is used for funding at state and local levels. Special education students are also denoted in EMIS with category of disability (ODE, 2017). The researcher’s count did not consider related services such as Speech Language Therapists, Physical or Occupational therapists/assistants, or low incidence consultant services.
Research Question #1
1. How many special education teacher, paraprofessional serve special education students in school districts in Ohio? A. What are the ratios of
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The National Labor Statistics reports that in 2015-2016 there were 20,150 special educators and 137,260 general education teachers employed in Ohio (NLS, 2017). This is a state ratio of 12.8% of all teachers are special education teachers. The districts in the five counties’ mean was tabulated at 13.4% of all teachers are special education teachers.
The ratio of special education teachers to paraprofessionals in districts in Ohio was also formulated from this data. The National Labor Statistics reports that in 2015-2016 there were 20,150 special educators and 35,250 paraprofessionals employed in Ohio (NLS, 2017). In Ohio is 36% of the special education team is comprised of special educators, or a ratio of .57 special education teacher for every paraprofessional. The districts in the five northern Ohio counties was 51% or a ratio of nearly one paraprofessional for every special education