Grants Help CCSD Fill Critical Need
U.S. Department of Education Grants will Add More Special Education Teachers
Three College of Education professors are working to improve special education programs and increase the number of specialists working with autistic and other intellectually disabled children. Their work — made possible by winning highly competitive federal grants — will be in partnership with the Clark County School District
"These grants give us the opportunity to encourage more people to pursue a teaching career and address the national and local shortage of special education teachers," said Tom Pierce, chair of the special education department. "The new teacher training programs will upgrade our curriculum and speed up the process to become licensed."
Creating New Teachers
Special education professors Pierce and Kyle Higgins received a four-year grant worth nearly $800,000 to start an accredited training program for new special education teachers. Two-thirds of the funding will be used for tuition assistance.
The program will be open to people with a bachelor’s degree in any field who want to become full-time special education instructors specifically trained to help children with autism or intellectual disabilities. The grant is expected to create 60 new teachers.
Augmenting Advanced Education
Kristin Sayeski, also a special education professor, received a five-year, $500,000 grant to enhance the special education emphasis of the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program.
The award will augment advanced education programs for teachers of children with learning disabilities, emotional disturbance problems, or mental retardation.
In collaboration with the CCSD, UNLV will provide:
- field experiences in the classroom
- mentoring
- innovative post-graduation support
Grant Information
Sayeski’s award was made under the Special Education Preservice Training Improvement Grants Program, which ensures graduates meet the highly qualified teacher requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act.
Higgins and Pierce’s grant was awarded through the Office of Special Education Personnel Preparation Programs, which helps improve services and results for children with disabilities.
Related Information
UNLV Special Education Department
