Oct. 20, 2004

$10 Million Pledged for GSEHD Urban Teacher Education Program

By Greg Licamele

The Graduate School of Education and Human Development will lead a partnership that will fund a project to develop new strategies to recruit, support and retain the most capable professionals for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). A total of $10,480,417 has been pledged to support this project over five years with 46.8 percent coming from the federal government ($4,913,725) and 53.2 percent ($5,566,692) in matching funds (non-federal contributions) from the members of the partnership.

The project will focus on preparing a cadre of new and continuing professionals committed to the District schools with a focus on literacy. The professional development partnership that supports this initiative will provide pre-service teacher candidates with a minimum of one year of field-based training and an ongoing seminar focused on literacy and the application of technology to urban schools and the surrounding communities they serve. The partnership will be supported by six elementary schools and one middle school in Anacostia.

“This generous grant is great news for GW and its (partner) schools,” said Donald R. Lehman, executive vice president for academic affairs. “This is only the start of a remarkable partnership that will assist our faculty and students in urban schools.”

The partnership, entitled “Literacy Collaborative: Communities of Practice,” will be led by GSEHD’s Department of Teacher Preparation and Special Education, and will draw upon the expertise of faculty members at the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the DC State Office of Education, DCPS and five non-profit and corporate organizations with an interest in teacher quality, urban education and curriculum development. This award allows GW and GSEHD to continue their tradition of recruiting highly talented arts and sciences majors and mid-career professionals who are interested in working in urban schools.

The grant also will provide significant scholarship support for candidates seeking initial licensure and a master’s degree in the areas of elementary education, special education or secondary education (English), with a dual degree credential available in either elementary or secondary education, as well as special education. In addition, GSEHD’s existing Urban Initiative in-service program at Cardozo High School will continue to support and train teachers across secondary school subject disciplines and special education in an urban setting. Veteran teachers and administrators in DCPS who wish to expand their skills in critical literacy and instructional leadership also will receive professional development and support as part of the work of the partnership.

“We see this as a tremendous opportunity to strengthen GW’s nationally recognized teacher education programs while ensuring additional highly qualified teacher candidates for the District of Columbia Public Schools,” said Jay R. Shotel, chair of the Department of Teacher Preparation and Special Education.

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu