Liz Bettini
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lizbettini.bsky.social
Liz Bettini
@lizbettini.bsky.social
710 followers 430 following 290 posts
I skeet about #Specialedteachers & #teacherworkingconditions, co-direct the @sparccenter.bsky.social & am affiliated w/ the awesome @wheelockpolicybu.bsky.social here at @buwheelock.bsky.social (she/her)
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Reposted by Liz Bettini
sparccenter.bsky.social
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (#IDEA) was enacted 50 years ago. @airinforms.bsky.social highlights IDEA’s impact and the ongoing work to ensure a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities below.
airinforms.bsky.social American Institutes for Research @airinforms.bsky.social · 2d
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (#IDEA) turns 50 this month! 🎉 This landmark law opened doors for millions of students with disabilities.

Watch AIR experts explain what expanded access means for students, families and communities: https://bit.ly/4p9jHEX
November 26, 2025 at 7:05 PM
lizbettini.bsky.social
ICYMI! Check out our definition of what working conditions are and what they are not!
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
kszocik.bsky.social
It's been so great to work with this team-- check out our new paper on defining special educators' working conditions!
lizbettini.bsky.social Liz Bettini @lizbettini.bsky.social · 3d
Excited to share a new Project RESPECT paper out today in RASE, defining special educators' working conditions! We often talk about "working conditions" but seldom precisely define them. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:18 PM
lizbettini.bsky.social
ICYMI! TESE has some pretty incredible reviewers :-) Congrats to all the reviewers of the year!
November 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
matthewakraft.com
@edsustainable.bsky.social is hosting our first annual interdisciplinary conference!

Research at the intersection of education and the environment. 🎓🌎

May 1st, 2026

Providence, RI

Easy one paragraph abstract submission ⬇️
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Please share w/ your networks!
November 20, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
sparccenter.bsky.social
✨What does the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce look like within and across states? Our new interactive data visualizer tool looks at the composition, stability, and distribution of the workforce in our seven partner states.

Explore the tool: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
SPARC Data Explorer | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:35 PM
lizbettini.bsky.social
Excited to share a new Project RESPECT paper out today in RASE, defining special educators' working conditions! We often talk about "working conditions" but seldom precisely define them. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
sparccenter.bsky.social
💡“Our shortages aren’t really from not having enough people; it’s having people teaching the wrong thing.” - @afgilmour.bsky.social

Check out this article from Education Week which features research from our recent working paper on the #SpecialEducation teacher workforce.
edweek.org Education Week @edweek.org · 12d
Schools Have the Special Educators—But Keep Losing Them to General Ed.: A study across seven states finds educators for students with disabilities need more targeted support.
Schools Have the Special Educators—But Keep Losing Them to General Ed.
A study across seven states finds educators for students with disabilities need more targeted support.
www.edweek.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
sparccenter.bsky.social
Did you know recruitment and retention of #SpecialEducation teachers varies widely by school contexts, including by poverty level, enrollment demographics, and location?

🔎Explore more with our data visualizer: sparccenter.org/data-explore...
Screenshot from the SPARC Center Data Explorer. The graph looks at the percentage of special education teachers (SETs) who changed schools by school-poverty level. Seven states are included: Hawai‘i, Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. For each state, there are three dots showing the percent of SETs moving schools at low-poverty schools, middle-poverty schools, and high-poverty schools. In all states except Hawai‘i, the rate is highest for high-poverty schools.
November 18, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
annenberginstitute.bsky.social
📢 New postdoc opportunity at Annenberg!

The Annenberg Institute is seeking a postdoctoral research associate for a 2‐year appointment to join a diverse community of scholars committed to educational equity and improvement!

More info here: annenberg.brown.edu/opportunitie...
November 18, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
jenjennings.bsky.social
"On average, Musk will make $3 billion more per year than the 1.4 million elementary school teachers in the U.S. combined. Together, they made $97 billion last year."
"On average, Musk will make $3 billion more per year than the 1.4 million elementary school teachers in the U.S. combined. Together, they made $97 billion last year."
November 19, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
sparccenter.bsky.social
🎉 Congratulations to SPARC Center’s @lmasonwms.bsky.social for receiving the Excellence in Teacher Education Award from @ted-cec.bsky.social!

This honor recognizes Lucky's outstanding contributions to preparing and supporting #SpecialEducation teachers.
Photo from the award presentation for the Excellence in Teacher Education Award from the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. Two people stand in the center of the photo, both smiling. LaRon Scott, left, wears a tan suit. Lucky Mason-Williams, right, wears a black suit and holds the award plaque in her hand.
November 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
lizbettini.bsky.social
ICYMI! Go Lucky!!
lizbettini.bsky.social Liz Bettini @lizbettini.bsky.social · 12d
I LOVED seeing @lmasonwms.bsky.social get the recognition she so eminently deserves at TED this week, with the TED Excellence Award!! HUGE congratulations to TED, that we get such an amazing policy chair, colleague & member in our community!
November 17, 2025 at 12:22 PM
lizbettini.bsky.social
ICYMI!
sparccenter.bsky.social SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 14d
"As we have demonstrated, different states face different #SpecialEducation teacher turnover problems. This suggests that the most promising solutions might vary across states."

Read more about our recent findings in our article with @brookings.edu: www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...
States face different special education staffing challenges that require targeted responses | Brookings
Special education teacher turnover varies by state, calling for targeted, locally informed policy solutions.
www.brookings.edu
November 17, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
thrasherxy.bsky.social
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Black text on a yellow background - This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing. Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years if things work out. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more. As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin. We need more stories about us and our culture. You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.
November 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
hystericalblkns.bsky.social
Rest in power, Alice Wong.
November 15, 2025 at 11:19 AM
lizbettini.bsky.social
I LOVED seeing @lmasonwms.bsky.social get the recognition she so eminently deserves at TED this week, with the TED Excellence Award!! HUGE congratulations to TED, that we get such an amazing policy chair, colleague & member in our community!
November 14, 2025 at 11:29 PM
lizbettini.bsky.social
Check out Nelson Brunsting presenting SUCH thoughtful work on how we can intervene to improve special educators working conditions through project SUSTAIN !

education.ufl.edu/sustain/
November 13, 2025 at 5:12 PM
lizbettini.bsky.social
@lmasonwms.bsky.social & @afgilmour.bsky.social presenting year 1 SPARC center findings in Washington 1 right now- variability in the nature of the challenges facing the special ed workforce across states! Check out our year 1 working paper at sparccenter.org
Home | SPARC Center
sparccenter.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
daniellecgw.bsky.social
👋 I'm Danielle, and I'm on the #econjobmarket this year!

Let's start with a student describing her segregated school:

"The school felt temporary. Built like a warehouse with aluminum siding . . . I had a slipshod education"

The twist? The student is white, and her school is private.

A JMP 🧵 -->
November 12, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
roddy-theobald.bsky.social
Really excited to have this piece out on the Brown Center Chalkboard blog with @lmasonwms.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, & @lizbettini.bsky.social on the importance of targeted solutions to special education teacher staffing challenges. See below!
sparccenter.bsky.social SPARC Center @sparccenter.bsky.social · 14d
"As we have demonstrated, different states face different #SpecialEducation teacher turnover problems. This suggests that the most promising solutions might vary across states."

Read more about our recent findings in our article with @brookings.edu: www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...
States face different special education staffing challenges that require targeted responses | Brookings
Special education teacher turnover varies by state, calling for targeted, locally informed policy solutions.
www.brookings.edu
November 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
lizbettini.bsky.social
Fascinating paper being presented right now in Shawnee, with @lindseykaler.bsky.social and Jenn Lillis, about analysis IEP data at scale!
November 12, 2025 at 4:06 PM
lizbettini.bsky.social
Really excited to celebrate the TESE reviewers of the year tomorrow afternoon at 1:00!
November 12, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Reposted by Liz Bettini
annenberginstitute.bsky.social
5 years post-pandemic, Massachusetts public schools have seen sustained enrollment declines. Is this a temporary disruption, or did the pandemic change how families evaluate schools?

@joshua-goodman.com, Abigail Francis, & James Wyckoff will dig into the data with Susanna Loeb.

buff.ly/dByipCW
November 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
lizbettini.bsky.social
"Varying patterns across states...suggest the need for policy responses targeted to state & local needs."

Check out recent @sparccenter.bsky.social findings, @lmasonwms.bsky.social, @afgilmour.bsky.social, @roddy-theobald.bsky.social

www.brookings.edu/articles/sta...
November 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM