Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced that the Public Education & Business Coalition (PEBC), which runs the Colorado Boettcher Teacher Residency Program, in partnership with Adams State University has won a five-year grant totaling $2,906,833 from the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Quality Partnership Grant program, including $258,826 in the first year.
The Coalition will use the grant to train new STEM teachers for elementary and middle schools in rural Colorado. Fifteen of Colorado’s rural school districts are partners in the project: Alamosa, North Conejos, Center, Monte Vista, Moffat 2, Sierra Grande, Centennial, Del Norte, Sangre de Cristo, Montezuma-Cortez, Dolores RE-2, Rocky Ford, East Otero, Crowley, and Huerfano.
“Colorado is a leader in developing innovative teacher preparation programs,” Bennet said. “These programs will help ensure all of our kids receive a high-quality education. Our teachers and principals are key to preparing students for success, and we need to give them every tool and resource to help make that possible.”
“PEBC is honored to receive this highly competitive funding to grow and expand the Boettcher Teacher Residency program for Colorado’s rural school districts,” said Rosann B. Ward, PEBC President. “It is an opportunity for the education community to examine, evaluate and redefine quality teacher preparation, and how great teaching drives student success.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to get this grant,” said Dr. David Svaldi, president of Adams State University. “We look forward to working with our partners at PEBC to educate great STEM teachers and help the San Luis Valley and Colorado kids.”
The Coalition is one of two Colorado-based projects out of a total of 24 grantees selected by the Department of Education. The University of Colorado Denver is the other award in the state.
The Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program aims to increase student achievement by improving the quality of new prospective teachers. The Department of Education awards grants to partnerships comprised of colleges and universities and high-needs schools that are developing model teacher preparation programs. TQP grants may also support school leadership programs to train superintendents, principals, early childhood education program directors, and other school leaders in high-need or rural schools.