Instructional Supervision in Special Education: Strategies for Rural Programs

Instructional supervision in special education is a critical function of administrative units. However, providing instructional leadership in rural areas can be problematic due to low numbers of children with disabilities, few supervisory staff, greater teacher needs, and lack of perceived alternatives. This article provides a framework for supervisory tasks in special education, outlines funding and organizational alternatives for providing supervision in rural areas, and suggests specific strategies for dealing with barriers to supervision in rural programs.