SPED attracts some terrible people, but also so really good ones. A major problem right now is teacher retention. I've mentioned before that I live in a densely populated, urban area with a lot of kids labeled SPED. Because of the pandemic, anyone who could retire did so early on in the pandemic. Many teachers left for private sector jobs, became self-employed during the shut down, or decided to become stay at home parents.
The teachers that stayed are fed up. They don't get lunch breaks or planning time most weeks. Because there is a school bus driver shortage, 6 buses may come at dismissal, pick students up for home and return to the school to pick more students up. Dismissal takes much longer and teachers, teachers assistants, security, and administration are expected to stay to supervise the students.
A lot of the teachers that stayed are planning to bail after this year. Teachers are angry, parents are angry, student behavior problems are really bad post virtual learning. I really don't know how my area is going to function. The public school system here super stressed right now.