Meeting the Challenge/OSERS

Meeting the Challenge/OSERS Grant Description

Meeting the Challenge is an Initial Licensure Scholarship Program designed to prepare special education teachers in the high-need urban school districts of Fitchburg, Leominster, Lowell and Worcester. Funded through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, the program is designed to alleviate the critical shortages of highly qualified teachers in special education by providing teacher training, financial aid, support and retention services for unlicensed teachers in the partner districts. Through the Meeting the Challenge project, professionals currently teaching in special education classrooms receive enhanced skill development that improves the academic performance of students with high incidence disabilities in inclusive classrooms.

Scholarship Eligibility

MTC Brochure (PDF)

To be eligible for a scholarship through the Meeting the Challenge program, a student must meet the following criteria

• Be formally admitted to the Graduate Master’s in Education Program

• Be a citizen or a national of the U.S. with lawful permanent residency, verified through completion of the FAFSA

• Commit to and meet a Service Obligation (PDF) of working with children with disabilities

• Work with the special needs population in one of the the partner districts or a public school collaborative serving a partner district as either a
  • special education teacher on an emergency license (waiver) or
  • special education paraprofessional with a bachelor's degree
• Maintain satisfactory progress and performance in the program of study per Fitchburg State graduate school policy

• Must not accept duplicate educational allowances from any other entity
  

Meeting the Challenge/OSERS Grant: Staff

Mary-Ellen Efferen, Ed.M., Project Director

Susan A. Hutchinson, M.Ed., Project Coordinator

Dorothy J. Hargrove, M.Ed., Project Mentor

Tammy Soucie-Burke, Project Assistant