Currently, one of eight Maine teachers who work with special-needs students is not fully certified.
In a second round of scholarships for special education personnel, the Maine Department of Education is accepting applications from a broader group of educators than in the previous round, including occupational therapists, speech/language therapists, and individuals interested in becoming either orientation and mobility specialists or teachers for the visually impaired. Currently employed educational technicians and special education teachers are also eligible.
The scholarships will fund tuition, books and fees towards full certification completed through the University of Maine System.
The funds are available through the federal State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) recently awarded to the Maine Department of Education. The grant seeks to boost the percentage of highly qualified special education personnel working in Maine schools.
Visit the Maine Department of Education’s special education personnel grant web page, www.maine.gov/education/speced/spdg/goal1/, to download an application.
The application will be available June 1 and applications are due July 15.
Contact Debrajean Scheibel with questions by phone at 207-624-6689 or by email at Debrajean.Scheibel@maine.gov.