From School to School: Examining the Contours of Within-Field Switching in the Special Education Teacher Labor Market

The United States faces growing teacher shortages, disproportionately impacting schools serving students of color, low-income students, and those in rural or urban areas. Special education teachers (SETs) are especially in demand. Nearly half of all teaching vacancies are filled by teachers switching schools each year, yet little research explores switching, particularly by subject. Utilizing longitudinal data covering 27 years and over 1.2 million teachers in Texas, this study examines SET switching patterns relative to core subject teachers, utilizing discrete time hazard modeling, fixed-effect regressions, and geographic information system mapping. Results show that SETs switch schools at much higher rates, associated with experience, salary, and student demographics, yet generally transfer shorter distances than their peers. These findings highlight differential subject-specific labor market dynamics, suggesting targeted recruitment and retention strategies to address widespread shortages.