Exploring State Differences in School Social Worker Preparation to Deliver Special Education Services.

This article examines the impact of state preservice training and certification requirements on the preparedness and self-efficacy of school social workers (SSWs) serving as related service providers (RSPs) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Comparing Illinois, which mandates specialized special education coursework and supervised internships for SSW certification, with New Mexico, which requires only a social work degree and licensure without special education-specific training, the study found that Illinois SSWs reported significantly higher initial and current preparedness to support students with disabilities. Despite both groups gaining experience over time, the gap in perceived competence persisted, suggesting that preservice special education training has a lasting influence on SSWs' ability to effectively serve students with disabilities. The findings highlight the need for standardized, specialized training in special education within social work education to enhance service quality for this population.