The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that the first-ever cohort of 142 students at 14 institutions of higher education have completed the Accelerated Special Educator Certification program to become special educators in the Commonwealth.

Announced in March 2023, the Accelerated Special Educator Certification Program delivered $1.5 million in grant funding o bolster teacher pipeline. The first-ever cohort of special education teachers certified through this program fill critical educator workforce gaps.

Grants were made available to colleges and universities with approved PK-12 special education certification programs to partner with at least one school district, approved private school, career and technical center, charter school, cyber charter school, or intermediate unit to provide bachelor’s degrees holders with summer field experiences, mentoring by experienced special educators during the school year, and deliver a postbaccalaureate program for PK-12 special education teacher certification within 18 months. Programs offered most of the coursework during summer 2023 and summer 2024; provided a combination of in-person and virtual options for flexibility and support to the accelerated program participants working full-time; and ensured a minimum of 12 weeks of student teaching.

“Like many other states across the nation, Pennsylvania has been facing an educator workforce shortage—with a particularly critical need to fill thousands of special educator vacancies,” said Interim Acting Secretary Angela Fitterer. “Special educators play an essential role in the lives of their students and families, and this cohort of new teachers will make a lasting impact in classrooms across the Commonwealth for years to come.” As of the 2023-2024 school year, Pennsylvania’s teacher workforce stands at 123,190, with the largest shortages in Grades 4-8, Special Education PK-12, Mathematics 7-12, Life & Physical Sciences 7-12, and Career and Technical Education 7-12. The United States Department of Education have designated these areas as critical shortages, and currently, Pennsylvania needs 1,670 special educators.