SOE Receives Grant to Improve Special Education Training
Loyola Marymount University was one of only two California schools to receive a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education for its special education teacher-preparation program.
The grant will assist the LMU School of Education to improve the quality of its special-education teacher preparation program and ensure that graduates meet the more stringent teacher requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
“This grant is an important step to increasing the numbers of highly qualified teachers in the special education field,” said Shane P. Martin, dean for the School of Education at Loyola Marymount University. “LMU is dedicated to training skilled teachers who can make an impactful difference with their students and in special education advocacy.”
Additionally, the grant will address the specialized needs of children with high incidence disabilities, including those with limited English proficiency; provide candidates field experiences and mentoring opportunities in local, high-poverty communities and in schools not making adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act.
During the first year, the program will begin reviewing and improving program courses to include research-proven strategies designed to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
The grant was funded as a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education and covers what’s expected to be a five-year project overseen by the Education Department’s Office of Special Education Programs.