Special Education Special Education Teacher Preparation ProgramTeacher Preparation Program

Improvement GrantsImprovement Grants(325T)(325T)

Bonnie D. Jones, Ed. D.Bonnie D. Jones, Ed. D.Education Program SpecialistEducation Program Specialist

Office of Special Education ProgramsOffice of Special Education ProgramsU. S. Department of EducationU. S. Department of Education

Questions to Think AboutQuestions to Think About

Do you know this critical data for your state?– What percent of special education teacher

positions in my state are filled by HQ teachers?– Of those positions that are not filled by HQT, how

many are low-incidence positions? High-incidence?

– If some sped teacher positions are not filled by HQT, what strategies does my SPDG use to fulfill that state need?

HQT Status of Teachers Employed to Provide Special Education in

US and Outlying Areas

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Data Analysis System (DANS), OMB #1820-0518: "Personnel (in Full-Time Equivalency of Assignment) Employed To Provide Special Education and Related Services for Children with Disabilities,” 2006. Retrieved at http://www.ideadata.org July 20, 2009.

359,063 = HQT 45, 514 = Not HQT

11.2%

88.7%

http://www.ideadata.org

4

Purpose of Special Education 325T Purpose of Special Education 325T Program Improvement GrantsProgram Improvement Grants

To improve the quality of K-12 special education teacher preparation programs to ensure that - program graduates are able to meet the HQT

requirements under sections IDEA, and are well prepared to assist children with high

incidence disabilities in meeting State academic achievement standards.

Cooperative AgreementsRedesign during first project year of 5 yr projectIntensive Year-one Review of plans by OSEP and

external reviewers prior to implementationSupport for partnerships with the appropriate

academic departments – College of Arts & SciencesUse of resources from the IRIS Center, NCCTQ, and

NCIPP

Features of 325T GrantsFeatures of 325T Grants

One 325T award per IHE No training stipends Budget Limits – On average, $100,000 per year; limit of $500,000 over

the 5 year project period– Use for “buy out” time to plan, consultants

Cohort support (listserv, monthly teleconference, annual meeting, webinars)

Features of 325T GrantsFeatures of 325T Grants

Selected Priority Requirements

Revise curriculum (and syllabi)Expand induction and mentoring componentsIntegrate evidence-based interventions Enhance competencies of beginning special

education teachers to-• collaborate and work with general education teachers,

and • work effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse

populations;

Selected Priority RequirementsExtend clinical learning opportunities, field

experiences, or supervised practicaProvide support systems (including tutors, mentors,

and other innovative practices) to enhance retention in and successful completion

Evaluate the extent to which graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide scientifically based or evidence-based instruction and services that result in improved outcomes for children with disabilities.

Improvement on Licensure (or Certification) Standards

Improvement on Organizational Structure and Instructional Delivery

Improvement on Curriculum and Course ContentImprovement on Student SupportProgram Evaluation

325T Five Domains of Improvement

54 grants in 29 statesUp to five grants are located within one state; several

have three or four grantsSome SEAs are noticing the effort of the 325T grantees

to redesign programsOhio embraces the 325T program improvement work

and provides financial incentives to those who apply

Observations

325T Priority Funding325T Priority Funding

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

FY 2007FY 2008

FY 2009

2220

12

ReceivedReviewedAwarded

How to apply?How to apply?

Eligible applicant: Institutions of Higher Education. Partnerships are welcome!FY 2010 Forecast has not been published.Training available to Minority Institutions through the Monarch CenterOutreach to potential applicants through pre-application virtual meetings in 2009.Contact bonnie.jones@ed.gov