US Education Department Awards $3.1 Million in Grants to Help Prepare Graduate Students for Leadership in Special Education

WASHINGTON - The US Department of Education announced today more than $3 million in grants to higher education institutions to help prepare graduate students for leadership positions in special education, early intervention and related services, according to a press release by the Department.

The grants are meant to help fill a need that has developed in the past 20 years for leadership personnel who are prepared at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels to fill faculty positions in special education, early intervention and related services. Similarly, the grants will also help train scholars to eventually serve as supervisors of personnel providing direct services to infants and children with disabilities.

"Our students with disabilities deserve a high-quality education," said US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "These awards will help to prepare graduate students to become leaders in special education, early intervention and related services by equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need for these fields.

"All leadership personnel need to have current knowledge of effective interventions and services that improve outcomes for children with disabilities, including high-need children with disabilities," Duncan added.

Ultimately, the funds will help develop a corps of both highly qualified college faculty, as well as future supervisors of personnel providing direct services to infants and children with disabilities.

The Office of Special Education Programs is the primary source of federal funding for doctoral training in special education and early intervention. Following are the grant recipients for the program.