Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7343-8992

Defense Date

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Special Education

First Advisor

Dr. Colleen Thoma

Abstract

An adequate supply of special education teachers is a long-term critical need in many schools across the United States. The Covid-19 Pandemic increased the urgency of this need, but also brought about new opportunities to address these long-standing challenges. Policymakers and government agencies played a vital role in capitalizing on these opportunities. This dissertation study consists of two content analyses of publicly available documents related to actions of the executive branch of state governments to address critical special education shortages from March 2020 to September 2024. The first qualitative content analysis consists of 51 documents which include the “State Plan for the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund” from all 50 states and Washington D.C. Findings of the qualitative content analysis are organized using the “4P Framework” to propose an advocacy strategy for future opportunities amongst special education stakeholders. This framework provides a method for analyzing policies through focusing on the people, process, policies, and politics involved. Implications for research, practice, and policymakers are included based upon these findings.

Rights

© Jarrod Hobson

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

5-3-2024

Available for download on Sunday, May 03, 2026

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