Meeting the Challenge/OSERS: Program Goals

To address the shortage of highly qualified teachers in special education in high need urban districts, Meeting the Challenge has established the following goals:

• Support up to 33 credits in a research-based, clinical experience graduate program that will lead to initial licensure for teachers with emergency licensure (Massachusetts Department of Education waiver) in special education; all credits apply to the Fitchburg State College master's degree in special education

• Provide teacher licensure preparation for paraprofessionals currently working in special education classrooms who have baccalaureate degrees in other fields

• Provide preparation for licensure endorsement for English Language Learning (ELL)* to meet the Massachusetts Department of Education standards for highly qualified status of initial licensure and professional development for special education teachers who serve sheltered English immersion students in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening

• Provide support for mentors of beginning teachers to ensure they have the necessary skills to meet the unique needs of special educators

• Support mentoring and professional development programs for special education teachers who are in their first three years of teaching to address and alleviate the high incidence of attrition experienced by these districts.

*ELL Endorsement

Although the Massachusetts Department of Education has yet to finalize its requirements for the ELL endorsement, Fitchburg State College and its partner districts have committed to moving forward with preparing its personnel to meet the needs of the ELL population. All Meeting the Challenge scholars are required to attain the competencies anticipated to be included in ELL endorsement. Meeting the Challenge scholars are provided two options for obtaining ELL endorsement. 

1. Course work covering the four ELL Categories
   Category 1: Second Language Learning and Teaching (10-15 hrs)
   Category 2: Sheltering Content Instruction (30-40 hrs)- SPED7412 Sheltered Content Instruction for English Language Learners is grant funded
   Category 3: Assessment of Speaking and Listening (10 hrs)
   Category 4: Reading in the Sheltered Content Classroom (15-20 hrs)
2. Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure, English Language Learner #54.