Increasing Rural Special Education Teacher Candidates’ Ability to Implement Evidence-Based Practices: A Program Description of the Boise State University TATERS Program

Abstract

The Technology Accentuated Teacher Education for Rural Specialists (TATERS) program aimed to: (a) prepare highly qualified special education teachers across a state comprised of more than 70% rural districts, (b) develop a system of support through a mentor network and institutions of higher education collaboration to address the needs of teacher candidates in rural areas, (c) ground special education teachers in the use of evidence-based practices to improve the instructional services that students with disabilities in Idaho receive, and (d) develop a mechanism to evaluate and provide feedback on teacher candidates’ implementation of evidence-based practices. This article describes the application of a special education teacher evaluation system to a teacher preparation program designed to improve special education teachers’ ability to implement evidence-based practices for students with disabilities in rural areas. Key program components are described and future directions for continuous improvement are highlighted.