The U.S. Department of Education has again recognized GW’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD).
GSEHD’s Department of Special Education and Disability Studies and its Department of Counseling and Human Development have received funding totaling $3.7 million to support bilingual special education training for District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) educators and tuition costs for students in rehabilitation counseling and job development programs.
“With this generous funding we will continue to prepare local educators with quality preparation for meeting the complex and challenging needs of young learners in Washington, D.C. and beyond,” says GSEHD Dean Michael Feuer. “The support of the Department of Education is key to our ongoing efforts on behalf of all children and those with special needs.”
GW’s Department of Special Education and Disability Studies received two grants totaling $1.95 million to train 20 DCPS educators to work with culturally, linguistically and socio-economically diverse students. Funds will also support the creation of an interdisciplinary curriculum to aid in teacher preparation.
“As the student populations in America’s schools become increasingly diverse, and as federal and local policies require teachers to collaborate with professionals from other disciplines and in other roles, teacher preparation programs must adapt to a new challenge,” says Amy Mazur, professor of special education and disability studies. “Equipping teachers with a diverse set of knowledge and the communicative and collaborative skills will help them to support the needs of their students.”
GSEHD’s Department of Counseling and Human Development received three grants totaling $1.75 million for tuition support for three of its degree programs.
GSEHD’s master of arts program in rehabilitation counseling and graduate certificate in job development and placement each received $500,000 and its online graduate certificate in forensic rehabilitation counseling received $750,000.
Ken Hergenrather, director of GSEHD’s rehabilitation counseling program, says the funding will provide financial support for up to 92 graduate students.
“Our philosophy is to help prepare skillful, knowledgeable and scholarly professionals to empower persons with disabilities to actively engage in society through employment or independent living,” says Dr. Hergenrather. “With the recent funding, we can continue our commitment to this goal and ensuring that these practitioners receive high-quality preparation.”