Education
A Quality Teacher in Every Classroom
President Bush believes that quality teachers are the cornerstone of a good education. Speaking at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota, President Bush outlined his initiative to provide a quality teacher in every classroom in America. Using the new provisions in the No Child Left Behind Act in conjunction with his budget request, the federal government will invest more than $4 billion in 2002 alone to improve teacher quality and strengthen teacher recruitment throughout America. An excerpt from the policy document pertaining to improving training for teachers serving students with disabilities follows:
The White House
Quality Teacher in Every Classroom: Improving Teacher Quality and Enhancing the Profession "Tools for Teachers in Specific Areas of instruction" Purpose of the Program
Training for Teachers Serving Students with Disabilities (Section 15)
The Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program supports competitive grant awards to: (1) help address State-identified needs for special education and regular education teachers to work with children with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those teachers and personnel have the skills and
knowledge to serve those children.
New Program Improvements and Resources
President Bush supports this program, because it will help to
improve the education of children with disabilities by providing training for their teachers.
Last year, President Bush signed legislation that provided $90
million for this program in 2002.
This year, President Bush has proposed maintaining support for
this program in 2003.
Highlights:
- The program addresses critical shortages of personnel to
teach students with disabilities by implementing research-based training for teachers to serve children with disabilities defined under IDEA.
- The majority of grants are rewarded to Institutions of Higher Education that, in turn, provide training to teachers and personnel in how to educate students with disabilities. This training is often provided through scholarships to the participant.
- Participants receiving training must work in the area(s) for which they receive training or repay part or all of the scholarship funds they receive.
State Improvement Grants for Students with Disabilities (Section 16)
The State Improvement Grant program seeks to ensure that teachers of children with disabilities have the content and pedagogical skills to ensure that children with disabilities meet the same challenging State standards as non-disabled students. Seventy five percent of these State grants must be used for professional development.
Purpose of the Program
The State Improvement Grant program assists States in reforming
and improving their educational, early intervention, teacher training, and transitional services for students with disabilities.
New Program Improvements and Resources
President Bush supports this program, because it will help to
improve the education of children with disabilities by providing training for their teachers.
Last year, President Bush signed legislation that provided $51.7
million for this program in 2002. This year, President Bush has proposed maintaining support for this program in 2003.
Highlights:
- States can use their grants for the following purposes:
- Training special education teachers in effective reading
intervention programs.
- Training general education teachers in modifying instruction to meet the educational needs of all students in their classroom.
- Developing partnerships with universities to ensure that
pre-service and in-service university instruction is aligned with State standards.
- Recruiting special education teachers and regular education
teachers through web-based recruitment strategies
- Retaining greater numbers of special education teachers through mentorship programs.