Northern Pennsylvania Regional College was recently named one of 77 school entities awarded a shared sum of 1.4 million dollars by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his administration formally announced the grant recipients last month, hoping to guide more professionals into special education teacher certification degrees across Pennsylvania.

The $20,000.00 dollars the College received will be allocated to support high school career and technical education (CTE) students, as well as current Child Development Associate (CDA) students or credential completers to become more familiar with the field of special education. The first Developing Future Special Educators cohort at the institution is set to begin their studies at the start of the spring 2025 academic term.

The monies will be used to support a minimum of 12 students who reside in NPRC’s region who are interested in special education careers. Funding will cover the cost of enrolling in seven academic credits and textbooks at NPRC for students to learn more about special education. Learners will enroll in two, three credit courses remotely over two academic terms and a 40-hour, one credit externship. The externship will be completed at their place of employment if they are already working in the industry or at the school they are attending as a CTE student. The goal of the externship is for students to observe how special education teachers and support staff interact with their students.

According to EducationWeek, “Federal data show that 21 percent of public schools were not fully staffed in special education at the start of the 2023-24 school year, higher levels of reported shortages than any other teaching specialty. Additionally, around eight percent of teachers who work with children who qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are not fully certified.”

Director of Applied Studies and Instructor of Early Childhood Education Leigh Anne Kraemer-Naser adds, “This program is designed to expose students to what the field of special education is all about. It will allow students to get a feel for how to work with this population of students. There’s a serious special education teacher shortage right now, so the hope is this program will encourage this group of students to continue their learning beyond the program to eventually work in special education. This is also a big development because it’s the first time that the College has offered an externship for students.”

NPRC offers an associate degree in early childhood education with a specialization in special education that students can commit to after the completion of the seven credits. The seven credits earned will be counted towards the total of 60 credits needed to complete an associate degree at NPRC. Also, if students have already obtained a CDA credential, or completed an approved Pennsylvania CTE program, they are eligible to have nine additional credits through prior learning credits. Information sessions to discuss and share more about the program with prospective students, employers, and schools will be announced soon.

For more information about NPRC’s early childhood education and child development associate programs, visit the College’s website.

About NPRC: Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is authorized by the PA Department of Education to award associate degrees and certificates in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. NPRC is an open-admission, two-year institution of higher education. The College’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible post-secondary education to the residents of northern Pennsylvania. NPRC brings affordable education to a 10-county region (Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Venango, and Warren). With flexible scheduling options at numerous instructional locations, attending Northern Pennsylvania Regional is an excellent option for individuals interested in furthering their education close to home. With a growing team of high-quality industry-leading instructors directing our classrooms, students are empowered by a welcoming community to change their lives and brighten their futures. NPRC is a candidate for accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). https://regionalcollegepa.org.