Loyola Marymount University was one of only two California schools to receive a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education for its special education teacher-preparation program.
The grant will assist the LMU School of Education to improve the quality of its special-education teacher preparation program and ensure that graduates meet the more stringent teacher requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
“This grant is an important step to increasing the numbers of highly qualified teachers in the special education field,” said Shane P. Martin, dean for the School of Education at Loyola Marymount University. “LMU is dedicated to training skilled teachers who can make an impactful difference with their students and in special education advocacy.”
Additionally, the grant will address the specialized needs of children with high incidence disabilities, including those with limited English proficiency; provide candidates field experiences and mentoring opportunities in local, high-poverty communities and in schools not making adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act.
During the first year, the program will begin reviewing and improving program courses to include research-proven strategies designed to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
The grant was funded as a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education and covers what’s expected to be a five-year project overseen by the Education Department’s Office of Special Education Programs.
About the Loyola Marymount University School of Education
The School of Education is dedicated to the education of Pre-K-12 professionals who will impact countless lives in local schools and school districts. With more than 250 undergraduates and 1,100 graduate students, the SOE offers undergraduate credential options and graduate credential and degree programs. Just recently, the SOE was ranked 117 in the US New & World Report Top 250 Schools of Education.
About Loyola Marymount University
Located between the Pacific Ocean and downtown Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive university offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded in 1911, LMU is the largest Catholic institution of higher education on the West Coast with nearly 5,500 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate and law students. Students can choose from more than 80 majors and programs in four colleges, two schools and Loyola Law School.