Rowan's College of Education to share $10.8 million Teacher Quality Partnership grant
October 19, 2009
Rowan University's College of Education has received a $3.2 million grant designed to improve the achievement of New Jersey's schoolchildren through the preparation and retention of highly qualified teachers.
The five-year Teacher Quality Partnership grant is part of a $10.8 million grant awarded to the Garden State Partnership for Teacher Quality through the federal government's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The partnership includes Rowan, William Paterson and Kean universities. The grant provides funding to develop 15 Professional Development Schools in the state, including the South Jersey districts of Camden and Bridgeton, as well as the LEAP Academy University Charter School, also located in Camden.
"The grant will help support the college's mission to prepare the best beginning teachers for South Jersey's urban schools," says College of Education Dean Dr. Carol Sharp. "We will use the grant funds to create new opportunities for teacher preparation and to reform and strengthen our traditional programs."
Grant monies will allow the college to strengthen field experiences for teachers and to offer targeted instruction to teacher candidates in critical needs areas, such as special education, English as a Second Language (ESL), and bilingual education.
Additionally, the grant will establish an urban teacher residency program similar to medical residency programs, according to Dr. Jill Perry, associate dean for Rowan's College of Education.
"Rowan teacher candidates will have a year-long experience in an urban school to fine-tune their teaching skills," says Perry.
In addition to the support of mentor faculty and teachers, the teacher residency program candidates also will receive a cost-of-living stipend during their 12-month clinical experience, according to Perry.
"We're pleased to receive this grant, as only 28 were awarded nationally," says Perry. "A high percentage of teachers leave the profession sometime during their first three years of teaching.
"This grant will help immensely with recruitment and retention efforts," she continues. "It will support our commitment to preparing highly qualified teachers for the classrooms of Southern New Jersey and beyond."
