Abstract:
The Special Education profession played a central role in the development of the professional teaching standards for highly accomplished special education teachers. The findings of this study report on the views of the profession, identify common and agreed understandings about professional teaching standards and their relationship to teacher quality and teacher professionalism. The investigation carried out by members of the South Australian Chapter of the Australian Association of Special Education had three aims: to describe what accomplished teachers of children with special education needs value, know and practice; to advocate for the development of nationally agreed teacher standards, values and quality professionalisms that will inform the current and future work of professionals in the field of Special Education; and to promote quality teaching and the advancement of the Special Education profession. Data was collected from a range of practising educators of learners with special needs in both country and metropolitan schools. These were analysed by the research group and the document "Standards for highly accomplished special education teachers" was compiled, printed and distributed to practitioners in the field.