Content Area Instruction Delivered by Secondary Learning Disabilities Teachers: A National Survey

Abstract

This article describes the results of a survey of 54 State Departments of Education (including Washington, DC; the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Virgin Islands; and Puerto Rico) regarding the estimated extent to which secondary learning disabilities (LD) teachers provide content area instruction to their students. Data are reported in terms of (a) the degree to which students with learning disabilities in each state receive content coursework from special educators, (b) the pattern of and projected growth in such models, and (c) the perceived adequacy of teacher-training programs for preparing secondary LD teachers to provide content instruction. Results reflect substantial variability across states, as well as between and within geographic regions. The influence of geography in shaping service delivery for LD adolescents is discussed.