PITTSBURGH — As Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage continues to worsen, the state is offering practicing paraeducators the opportunity to obtain a special education teaching certificate for free.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently announced that $1.5 million in grant funding is available to intermediate units to fund paraeducators — aides that help teachers in the classroom — wanting to become special education teachers.

The announcement comes as the state has continued to see a plummeting number of people obtaining in-state teaching certificates.

“One of the most efficient ways we can create a robust pipeline of high-quality educators is by allowing paraprofessionals to earn credentials while they’re already working the classroom,” acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Khalid N. Mumin said in a statement. “These individuals serve their students and their communities every day and have the skills, passion and purpose to transition seamlessly from paraprofessional to educator.”

In 2010-11, Pennsylvania issued almost 2,600 new in-state special education teaching certificates for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, state data show. But in 2013 the state mandated college students requiring special education training to receive a dual certification.

That meant teachers-to-be had to choose between a certificate in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, or one in seventh through 12th grade. They then had to decide on a second certificate related to education that would “permit special education teachers to provide supports and assist other teachers in regular classroom settings,” the education department’s website says.

By the 2013-14 school year, almost 1,500 new in-state special education certificates for pre-k through eighth grade were issued, while more than 100 seventh through 12th grade certificates were given out, state records show. Taken together, about 1,600 special education certifications were issued that year, a drop of almost 1,000 from 2010-11.

During the 2020-21 school year, the latest data available, the numbers continued to decline. About 1,000 pre-k through eighth grade certifications were issued, and almost 120 for seventh through 12th grade.

The goal of the grant program now is to create special education career pathways for paraeducators while increasing the number of paraeducators earning certifications.

Intermediate units that partner with at least one Pennsylvania community college and one local education agency such as a school district, private school, technical center or charter and cyber schools, can apply for the grant.

Intermediate units that receive grant money must then deliver a program that ensures paraeducators can receive academic support and attend courses at no cost. They must also partner with at least one community college to design and deliver a program to ensure completion of all competencies within a two-year period and provide instruction that meets the needs of paraeducators working full-time.

In all, intermediate units can request up to $50,000. Each successful grant application is available through December 2025.

Applications are due by Aug. 11.

© 2023 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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