Education Secretary Announces Grants to Assist Math and Science Teachers in Becoming ‘Highly Qualified’
$2 million to be Distributed to Regular and Special Education Teacher Programs
10/1/2009
Oct. 1, 2009Harrisburg – Five Pennsylvania universities will share more than $2 million in federal grants this year to help more math and science teachers become highly qualified, state Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak announced today.
The $2.06 million in Title II grants will be used to encourage more teachers to continue their educations so they will be better equipped in the classroom.
“Mathematics and science are the foundations for student success in this high-tech era,” Secretary Zahorchak said. “We must have knowledgeable, enthusiastic teachers who can challenge our students to excel in these subjects.”
The efforts of the five partnerships will benefit Pennsylvania’s high-need districts in other ways, as well, by increasing the percentage of core academic classes taught by highly qualified teachers.
A total of 657 mathematics, biology, chemistry, general science and other science teachers from northeastern, southeastern, south-central and southwestern Pennsylvania will participate in programs that will enable them to meet highly qualified teacher requirements.
All public school teachers with primary responsibility for direct instruction in one or more of No Child Left Behind’s core content areas are required to demonstrate that they satisfy the definition of a Highly Qualified Teacher. To satisfy the definition of a Highly Qualified Teacher, teachers must:
1. Hold at least a bachelor’s degree;
2. Hold a valid Pennsylvania teaching certificate (i.e., Instructional I, Instructional II or Intern certificate but not an emergency permit); and
3. Demonstrate subject matter competency for the core content area they teach.
For more information about Highly Qualified Teachers and the grant program, visit Pennsylvania Department of Education at www.teaching.state.pa.us.
Media contact: Leah Harris, 717-783-9802
Editor’s Note: Attached is the list the partnerships receiving the grants:
1. Arcadia University in partnership with Allentown, Reading, Lancaster and Philadelphia school districts;
2. Drexel University in partnership with Philadelphia and Lancaster school districts;
3. Eastern University in partnership with Chestnut Hill College and the School District of Philadelphia;
4. Indiana University of PA in partnership with Woodland Hills and Laurel Highlands school districts; and
5. Wilkes University in partnership with Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19 and Hanover Area, Hazleton, Perkiomen Valley, Pocono Mountain, Reading, Scranton, Spring-Ford, Susquehanna Community, Wyoming Valley West, and Upper Perkiomen school districts.
