Working Together for All Students
Supporting students with disabilities brings unique rewards and challenges. You deserve a community that understands both.
North Dakota United’s Special Education Collective connects special education teachers, paraprofessionals and related service providers across our state. Together, we share practical solutions, strengthen our profession and advocate for the support educators and students need.
Connect With the Collective
Join the NDU Special Education Collective
Special Education Collective Meetings
Special Educator Retention Rubric
Who Can Participate?
The Collective welcomes professionals working in special education, including:
- Special education teachers and paraprofessionals
- Behavior specialists
- Physical and occupational therapists
- School psychologists
- Other related service providers and professionals supporting students with disabilities
Why Get Involved?
Connect with colleagues who understand your work—and help shape what comes next for special education in North Dakota.
Through the Collective, you can:
- Share ideas and practical classroom solutions.
- Learn from fellow educators and experts in the field.
- Find professional-learning opportunities and resources.
- Stay informed about legislation affecting special education.
- Help identify shared priorities and strengthen our collective advocacy.
Our Work
Supporting educator retention
We developed a special education retention rubric to support conversations about the conditions educators need to stay and succeed in the profession.
Bringing educators’ experience to policymakers
Our legislative engagement includes helping advance HB 1530 in 2025, legislation addressing a study of special education teacher shortages, working conditions and needs.
Learning together
We connect educators with book studies, online modules and professional-learning opportunities, including NEA’s Disability Rights and Inclusion series.
Explore NEA’s Disability Rights and Inclusion Learning Opportunities
Our Guiding Principles
Trust and respect
We build strong relationships through honesty, reliability, mutual respect and shared responsibility.
Accessibility
We work to remove barriers so every student can access high-quality instruction and participate meaningfully.
Normalization
We recognize disability as a natural part of human experience. We value differences and provide support without treating disability as something to “fix.”
Interdependence
Students and educators learn from and support one another. Everyone has something to contribute.
Diversity
Inclusive classrooms benefit all learners by valuing diverse perspectives, backgrounds, abilities and experiences.
Natural proportions
We support inclusive classrooms where the proportion of students receiving special education services reflects the broader school population.
Add Your Voice
Your experience can help strengthen special education across North Dakota. Connect with the Collective to share your perspective and help shape our work.
