Courtesy of Chicago State University
The Special Education Master’s Degree Program, housed in the College of Education at Chicago State University has received two grants from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). These grants were submitted by Dr. Florah Luseno, Project Director and Dr. Rasha Elhage, Project Co-Director.
The first grant award, in the amount of $1,246,152 over a five-year time period, is designed for candidates who are recruited and enrolled in the Special Education Fast-Track Cohort Program. This program is intended for individuals who are licensed as general education teachers and are interested in earning their Special Education Master’s Degree and their Illinois Learning Behavioral Specialist-I Professional Educator licensure. This program is aimed at those who wish to serve school-age children with disabilities, including those with high-intensity needs.
The second grant award, in the amount of $1,158,606 over a five-year time period, is designed for candidates who are recruited and enrolled in the Special Education Initial Certification Program. This program is intended for individuals who are new to the teaching field, paraprofessionals, or substitute teachers, and those interested in earning their Master’s Degree along with their Illinois Learning Behavioral Specialist-I Professional Educator licensure. This program is for those who aspire to serve school-age children with disabilities.
Candidates supported through these two grants will be fully credentialed to serve children with disabilities from kindergarten (K) through age 21, thus helping meet the current severe shortages most school districts are facing locally and nationally in finding and hiring special education teachers required to work with students with special needs.
“Through these grants, we can develop and create innovative models for recruiting, training, and graduating highly qualified multilingual and ethnically and racially diverse special education teachers,” says Dr. Florah Luseno, Chair of the Department of Advanced Studies in Education.“Students with special and diverse learning needs deserve highly qualified teachers who show outstanding leadership, knowledge, and skills required to support these students and their families,” adds Dr. Rasha Elhage, Professor in the Special Education Program.