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Unions as Change Agents: Washington Education Association's Pioneering Approach to Special Education Teacher Preparation

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Title: Unions as Change Agents: Washington Education Association's Pioneering Approach to Special Education Teacher Preparation
Language: English
Authors: Matthew T. Marino, Eleazar Vasquez III, Tahnee Wilder, James D. Basham
Source: School Community Journal. 2025 35(1):109-136.
Availability: Academic Development Institute. 121 North Kickapoo Street, Lincoln, IL 62656. Tel: 1-800-759-1495; Web site: http://www.schoolcommunitynetwork.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 28
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Department of Education (ED)
Contract Number: H327F20008
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Kindergarten
Primary Education
Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Change Agents, Special Education, Special Education Teachers, Alternative Teacher Certification, Teacher Shortage, Special Needs Students, Program Descriptions, Case Studies, Evidence Based Practice, Standards, Partnerships in Education, School Districts, Mentors, Coaching (Performance), Kindergarten, Elementary Secondary Education, Unions, Teachers
Geographic Terms: Washington
ISSN: 1059-308X
1059-308X
Abstract: Alternate route certification programs for special education teachers have gained prevalence for several decades as states attempt to address national shortages of teachers who are adequately prepared to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities. This article presents an exploratory case study of the Washington Education Association (WEA) Teacher Residency Program, the first teacher union-sponsored alternative pathway for special education teacher certification in the United States. The program was co-designed with families and other members of the education community throughout Washington State with the purpose of increasing the number of certified special educators in the state. The case study examined the level at which WEA included evidence-based training components during the preparation program. WEA's collaboration with partner school districts, expectations from teacher residents, and the standards addressed during the program are reported. In addition, details of the collaboration with the Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL) are described. The WEA case study will provide other collaborative community partnerships and alternate certification programs with a blueprint for integrating strategies to diversify the special education teacher workforce while maintaining high standards.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1473053
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Unions as Change Agents: Washington Education Association's Pioneering Approach to Special Education Teacher Preparation
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matthew+T%2E+Marino%22">Matthew T. Marino</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Eleazar+Vasquez+III%22">Eleazar Vasquez III</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tahnee+Wilder%22">Tahnee Wilder</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22James+D%2E+Basham%22">James D. Basham</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22School+Community+Journal%22"><i>School Community Journal</i></searchLink>. 2025 35(1):109-136.
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  Data: Academic Development Institute. 121 North Kickapoo Street, Lincoln, IL 62656. Tel: 1-800-759-1495; Web site: http://www.schoolcommunitynetwork.org/
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 28
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Department of Education (ED)
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Kindergarten%22">Kindergarten</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Primary+Education%22">Primary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Change+Agents%22">Change Agents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+Education%22">Special Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+Education+Teachers%22">Special Education Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alternative+Teacher+Certification%22">Alternative Teacher Certification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Shortage%22">Teacher Shortage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+Needs+Students%22">Special Needs Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Descriptions%22">Program Descriptions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Case+Studies%22">Case Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evidence+Based+Practice%22">Evidence Based Practice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Standards%22">Standards</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Partnerships+in+Education%22">Partnerships in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Districts%22">School Districts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mentors%22">Mentors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coaching+%28Performance%29%22">Coaching (Performance)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kindergarten%22">Kindergarten</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Unions%22">Unions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teachers%22">Teachers</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Washington%22">Washington</searchLink>
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  Data: 1059-308X<br />1059-308X
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Alternate route certification programs for special education teachers have gained prevalence for several decades as states attempt to address national shortages of teachers who are adequately prepared to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities. This article presents an exploratory case study of the Washington Education Association (WEA) Teacher Residency Program, the first teacher union-sponsored alternative pathway for special education teacher certification in the United States. The program was co-designed with families and other members of the education community throughout Washington State with the purpose of increasing the number of certified special educators in the state. The case study examined the level at which WEA included evidence-based training components during the preparation program. WEA's collaboration with partner school districts, expectations from teacher residents, and the standards addressed during the program are reported. In addition, details of the collaboration with the Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL) are described. The WEA case study will provide other collaborative community partnerships and alternate certification programs with a blueprint for integrating strategies to diversify the special education teacher workforce while maintaining high standards.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1473053
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1473053
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 28
        StartPage: 109
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Change Agents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Special Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Special Education Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Alternative Teacher Certification
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Shortage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Special Needs Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Descriptions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Case Studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Evidence Based Practice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Standards
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Partnerships in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Districts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mentors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Coaching (Performance)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Kindergarten
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Unions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Washington
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Unions as Change Agents: Washington Education Association's Pioneering Approach to Special Education Teacher Preparation
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            NameFull: Tahnee Wilder
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            NameFull: James D. Basham
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              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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