Today the Kansas Board of Regents announced that Emporia State University, Pittsburg State University, and Wichita State University are the recipients of funding awards, totaling $393,168, through the newly-created Teacher Education Competitive Grant program.
The program, approved by the 2007 Legislature and signed into law by the Governor, is intended to expand teacher education programs and increase the number of highly-qualified teachers in hard-to-fill teaching disciplines (mathematics, science, foreign languages, music, and special education) and under-served geographic areas in Kansas (western Kansas and public schools in Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita).
"I applaud the Legislature and the Governor for funding this vital workforce development and education initiative. This program provides an important tool that our universities can utilize in responding to the critical shortage of teachers in vital subject areas and under-served geographic locations across Kansas," said Christine Downey-Schmidt, Chair of the Board of Regents. "A bright future for Kansas depends upon the presence of high quality teachers in classrooms across our state, particularly in these difficult-to-fill positions. We all need to find ways to do more to address our state's teacher shortages; this important initiative provides a useful starting point."
The state's seven public universities were eligible to apply for these competitive funds, and university proposals were considered by a grant review committee consisting of representatives from the Board of Regents, the Kansas Department of Education, and K-12 teachers. Upon receiving the review committee's work and recommendations, the Board made the following awards:
. Emporia State University: $117,733 for expanding the existing adaptive special education program to award an additional 180 endorsements over the next three years. The project incorporates Lead Teachers in school districts who will facilitate continual interactions with Emporia State University and thereby enhance the retention of teachers. The total cost of the first year of the project is $176,600, of which $117,733 will be provided by state funds.
. Pittsburg State University: $175,383 for expanding existing programs to award an additional 65 teaching endorsements within the next three years. The project involves expanding an existing alternative licensure program, training teaching mentors, and enhancing the retention of teachers in their teaching field. The total cost for the first year of this project is $281,408, of which $175,383 will be provided by state funds.
. Wichita State University: $100,052 for expanding existing programs and implementing new programs to award an additional 60 teaching endorsements over the next three years. The project involves four initiatives: 1) Awarding additional endorsements to currently-licensed teachers; 2) The development of the Urban Teacher Education Program; 3) Facilitating early exposure to teaching by encouraging participation in a Cooperative Education Program; and 4) Recruiting future teachers by working with the Wichita National Education Association Student Group. The total cost for the first year of this project is $150,446, of which $100,052 will be provided by state funds.
The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents is the governing board of the state's six universities and a coordinating board for nineteen community colleges, ten technical colleges and schools, and a municipal university.