Interdisciplinary Special Educator and School Counselor Preparation: Supporting Equitable Student Outcomes in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to provide readers with a rationale and blueprint for interdisciplinary programs like Project TLC, which prepare preservice special educators alongside school adjustment counselors. First, the authors discuss the rationale for Project TLC, including the current state of K-12 student mental health and social emotional learning, particularly in the context of public health and racial pandemics and issues pertaining to personnel shortages and attrition in both teaching and counseling. Then, the authors outline the blueprint of an interdisciplinary program including strategies for recruitment and retention of diverse students and a plan for shared coursework, fieldwork, and other learning opportunities that buoy graduate student development and preparation for serving students as collaborative colleagues. Throughout, the authors present the Project TLC blueprint with considerations for how this interdisciplinary training approach that utilizes faculty expertise and partnerships within local school communities can be translated into other communities.