Evaluating the Special Education Professional Development Program Based on the Council of Exceptional Children’s Advanced Preparation Standards: A Mixed-Method Inquiry

Abstract

A national call to promote the capability of the educational system to meet the development and job market demands initiated the development of the Special Education Higher Diploma Program (SEHDP) to create robust special education (SE) school programs. A concurrent explanatory mixed-method approach was employed. A web-based survey based on the Council of Exceptional Children (CEC)’s advanced preparation standards (2015) was sent to 561 Special Education Teachers (SETs) who were registered in the SEHDP. One hundred-and-fifty-six SETs responded to the survey (27%). Differences among participants’ responses based on gender, geographical region, educational qualifications, disability programs, and years of experience were examined. Furthermore, 10 interviews were held with SETs to explore their perspectives regarding the SEHDP strengths and challenges they encountered. Data were analyzed using descriptive and thematic analyses. The study found a consistently high rating of the seven CEC standards with an overall mean of 4.190. Statistically significant differences in terms of gender, educational qualifications, and years of experience were identified. SETs’ overall perspectives about the program were positive, indicating the program’s impact on the knowledge and skills they gained, which aligned with other studies, along with the program’s challenges and suggestions. Study limitations and implications for practice were included.