Connecticut Wins $4.7 Million Federal Grant to Grow Special Education Teaching Workforce
The Connecticut State Department of Education announced on September 28 that the state has won a competitive U.S. Department of Education award totaling $4,735,615 over five years to expand career pathways for special education teachers and early intervention personnel. The five-year award begins in October 2026 and will extend Connecticut's registered apprenticeship model into special education, a field facing persistent shortages. Under the new initiative, called T-RAP SPED, participants can work in paid school positions while completing the preparation and training required for teaching certification. The program builds on an existing teacher apprenticeship supported by a $2 million investment from Governor Ned Lamont and the General Assembly. Lamont said the federal funding will help prepare more people for these careers while ensuring students and families have access to skilled professionals. For Chinese-American families considering education careers, the earn-while-you-learn pathway offers a lower-barrier route into special education and early intervention.
(Source: Connecticut State Department of Education)
Source: Connecticut State Department of Education
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图为康涅狄格州议会大楼；摄影：Paul Danese，经维基共享资源（CC0）/ The Connecticut State Capitol; photo by Paul Danese via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
