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Welcome & Overview
The Special Education Teacher Pathway Program Grant FY24 is funded by the Minnesota Department of Education under Minnesota Statutes 2023, section 122A.77. This grant is designed to address the critical shortage of licensed Special Education teachers by building a sustainable pipeline of trained, licensed Tier 3 or Tier 4 Special Education professionals.
SWWC and our partner districts were awarded a $3 million grant in FY24 to support special education teacher licensure in our region until January 2029 or until funding runs out. The program’s primary goals include:
- Reducing Financial Barriers: Providing financial support such as scholarships and access to grants for tuition, books, and other grant approved expenses.
- Removing Programmatic Barriers: Offering guidance, mentorship, and resources to ensure participants can successfully complete the requirements for licensure.
- Developing High-Quality Educators: Equipping participants with the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience necessary to thrive as Special Education teachers in Southwest Minnesota schools.
- Increasing the number of Fully Licensed Special Educators: Prioritizing current Tier 1 and 2 special educators who are not properly licensed to becoming fully licensed Tier 3 or 4 educators in Southwest Minnesota Schools.
Through this grant, SWWC and our partners (District and University) are committed to addressing the growing need for licensed Special Education teachers in regions 6 and 8 while fostering a supportive pathway for individuals pursuing this rewarding career.
The list of special education license areas that this grant program could support for eligible and qualified employees:
- Academic and Behavioral Specialist (ABS)
- Emotional Behavior Disorder (EBD)
- Learning Disabilities (SLD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
- Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE)
- Physical and Health Disabilities (PHD)
- Oral/Aural Deaf Education (O/A)
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)
- Blind or Visually Impaired (BVI)
- Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
- Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD)