Contact: Sammy McDavid
Aug. 10 is the deadline to apply for fall semester enrollment in a Mississippi State scholarship program to help teachers obtain special education certification.
"Project Response" began last year with a $600,000 U.S. Department of Education grant to the university's department of curriculum and instruction. The program is designed for teachers now employed on emergency certificates who wish to complete the special education endorsement but have difficulty completing the necessary courses.
In addition to making courses available at locations near where teachers live, the program provides tuition for the 18 semester hours needed for certification in mild and moderate disabilities.
Certification obtained through the program is only temporary, however. Teachers desiring to remain in special education must complete additional course work in order to be fully certified.
Mississippi Valley State University and the University of Mississippi are cooperating with MSU in the three-year program that involves the delivery of required courses via the statewide Mississippi Star Schools Network.
In addition to classes, fieldwork is required of all participants. Fieldwork experiences are available at MSU, MVSU and Ole Miss.
MSU professors John Obringer and G. Franklin Elrod are Project Response leaders. Obringer is principal investigator, while Elrod is field coordinator.
For additional information or to request application packets, contact the project office by telephone at (662) 325-0815 or fax at 325-7857.