SPARC is a Doctoral Training Grant funding by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) through their Research to Practice 325H Competition
Abstract
Title: The Special education teacher education Policy, Practice, and Research doctoral training Consortium (SPARC)
Purpose: All students deserve great teachers. Yet, we do not have enough great teachers to meet the needs of every student with a disability. The purpose of the SPARC is to increase the number of special education teacher education leaders who exemplify an expanded professional identity with expertise in evidence-based culturally and linguistically responsive and inclusive instruction, interventions, and services that improve outcomes for children with disabilities with high-intensity needs. Through a consortium including six universities, of which three are Minority Serving Institutions, at Texas A&M University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina State University, and George Mason University, SPARC will prepare 22 diverse scholars who stand to impact 11,000 students with disabilities annually as scholars will be prepared to (a) employ best practices in recruitment, preparation, and retention, (b) engage in teacher education policy development and advocacy, and (c) build and maintain research practice partnerships (RPPs).
Design: The SPARC was designed to prepare faculty to address the complex special education teacher shortage through expertise in four main competencies: teaching, research, policy and advocacy, and research to practice partnerships. Six key elements of culturally and linguistically responsive practice will be targeted across all project competencies. The integrated and cohesive coursework, apprenticeships, and intellectual community activities directly align to the target competencies, and supports including financial assistance, a tiered well-being and mentorship program, high value stakeholders and fieldwork opportunities, and a individualized student supports will lead to measurable success for scholars and the program overall.
Abstract
Title: The Special education teacher education Policy, Practice, and Research doctoral training Consortium (SPARC)
Purpose: All students deserve great teachers. Yet, we do not have enough great teachers to meet the needs of every student with a disability. The purpose of the SPARC is to increase the number of special education teacher education leaders who exemplify an expanded professional identity with expertise in evidence-based culturally and linguistically responsive and inclusive instruction, interventions, and services that improve outcomes for children with disabilities with high-intensity needs. Through a consortium including six universities, of which three are Minority Serving Institutions, at Texas A&M University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina State University, and George Mason University, SPARC will prepare 22 diverse scholars who stand to impact 11,000 students with disabilities annually as scholars will be prepared to (a) employ best practices in recruitment, preparation, and retention, (b) engage in teacher education policy development and advocacy, and (c) build and maintain research practice partnerships (RPPs).
Design: The SPARC was designed to prepare faculty to address the complex special education teacher shortage through expertise in four main competencies: teaching, research, policy and advocacy, and research to practice partnerships. Six key elements of culturally and linguistically responsive practice will be targeted across all project competencies. The integrated and cohesive coursework, apprenticeships, and intellectual community activities directly align to the target competencies, and supports including financial assistance, a tiered well-being and mentorship program, high value stakeholders and fieldwork opportunities, and a individualized student supports will lead to measurable success for scholars and the program overall.