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University partners with Chester County Intermediate Unit to address Pennsylvania's teacher shortage

�鶹��Ƶ receives funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Bureau of Special Education as part of the , an initiative designed to combat the Commonwealth’s special education teacher shortage. The grant is part of more than $1 million awarded to support a second cohort of higher education institutions leading workforce-aligned educator preparation.

"Alvernia continues to invest in partnerships that expand educational access and strengthen our region’s workforce," said Senior Vice President and Provost Leamor Kahanov, Ed.D. "We are proud to support current and future educators through accelerated pathways that meet Pennsylvania’s most urgent classroom needs."

The Accelerated Special Educator Certification Program Grant is organized by the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) and funds summer field experiences, year-round mentoring and coaching from experienced special educators, and an accelerated postbaccalaureate program that enables participants to earn PK-12 special education certification within 18 months. The program includes virtual instruction for working professionals and requires a minimum of 12 weeks of student teaching, ensuring participants gain hands-on experience in the classroom while maintaining full-time employment.

"This program exemplifies our mission to serve graduate and adult learners with flexible, impactful credentials," said Vice President for Graduate and Adult Education Gaetan T. Giannini, Ed.D. "We are enabling working professionals to become certified special educators without pausing their careers."

Alvernia's participation in this program is enhanced by partnerships with several local education intermediary units, including an expanded relationship with . These relations allow the university to go beyond the minimum requirement of serving a single school district and instead provide its Accelerated Special Education Certification program to educators in multiple districts in the surrounding regions. In the past year, more than 60 educators have enrolled with Alvernia, with another 30 expected each academic module that begins every seven weeks.

"The partnership between the CCIU and �鶹��Ƶ has been successful in addressing the critical shortage of special education teachers across our region,” said Assistant Director of Human Resources for CCIU Danielle Hawkins. “The accelerated certification program provides our educators with a clear, accessible pathway to expand their qualifications while continuing their important work supporting children in the classroom. We're seeing firsthand how this collaboration strengthens not only individual teaching careers but also the quality of specialized instruction we provide to our students with diverse learning needs. This partnership is an example of what is possible when educational institutions work together with a shared commitment to excellence and opportunity."

The program is housed within Alvernia's College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences and offers undergraduate, graduate, and certificate tracks. The online and hybrid delivery formats allow for accessibility and support, aligning with Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements.

"Pennsylvania’s educator workforce shortage will take flexibility, innovation, and creativity to solve, and initiatives like the Accelerated Special Educator Certification Program demonstrate how thinking outside of the box can produce critical and much-needed results for the Commonwealth," said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. "Between the 142 new special educators poised to enter classrooms across Pennsylvania and the hundreds of additional individuals who will also take advantage of this opportunity, we are making real and meaningful progress toward getting more high-quality educators in our schools." ().

This announcement builds on Alvernia's recent collaboration with the to provide T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships, which support early childhood educators in advancing their qualifications through tuition and book assistance, paid release time and academic advising.

To learn more about Alvernia’s special education certification and degree programs, or to apply, visit: www.alvernia.edu/special-education