Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) today awarded more than $1.4 million to 77 school entities to grow the Commonwealth’s next generation of special educators.
“Creating a future for our learners starts with having enough well-qualified, well-paid teachers in our classrooms, and this grant funding will bolster our efforts to generate a robust educator workforce in the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “By inspiring today’s students to become tomorrow’s teachers—and by investing in hands-on learning and career exploration opportunities—we are laying the foundation to support Pennsylvania’s students for decades to come.”
The awardees include Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) interested in developing or expanding experiential learning opportunities to engage secondary and postsecondary students in learning about and/or working with students with disabilities to inspire the next generation of special educators. Through experiential learning opportunities, secondary/postsecondary students will learn about supporting students with disabilities through participation in structured activities, programs, and/or events with guidance and oversight from current educators. Ultimately, the goal is to recruit future special education professionals by engaging them in authentic, experiential learning opportunities in support of students with disabilities.
Carlow University has been awarded $20,000 (the highest possible amount). CLICK HERE to see the full list of awardees.
This program builds on the Department’s efforts to recruit and retain teachers in Pennsylvania, as PDE is working collaboratively with leaders in the education field to ensure there is a robust pipeline of educators in place to provide a high-quality education to learners of all ages across the Commonwealth.
In the 2024-25 budget, Governor Josh Shapiro secured historic investments in public education for the second year in a row, with a $1.1 billion increase for K-12 schools, teachers, and students, including a $100 million increase for special education that builds on the $50 million increase secured last year, and an additional $10 million for student teacher stipends. These investments will help the Shapiro Administration better serve both current and future students and educators and address the education workforce shortage—and make it easier for Pennsylvanians to become a teacher.