Kansas University announced a new program Monday designed to help reduce a critical teacher shortage in Kansas City, Kan., by bringing in 160 teachers over the next five years.

KU and the Kansas City, Kan., school district have formed a partnership to develop a federally funded, five-year, $1.9 million “Transition to Teaching” program to help train adults who already have a college degree to be teachers.

Under the program, college graduates who have strong math and science skills will be sought for the teaching program.

Candidates for the program must also have at least five years of work experience and commit to working exclusively in the Kansas City, Kan., school district for one year.

KU will provide a stipend to cover tuition costs for each of the candidates.

Angela Lumpkin, KU dean of education, said the new program will be designed for adults who already have a bachelor’s degree.

The program will require candidates to commit three years. Two years will be spent earning certification and graduate credit through a program of intensive courses with KU faculty, in addition to on-the-job training as they teach in Kansas City, Kan., classrooms.

To earn the stipend, candidates must complete a third year teaching in the Kansas City, Kan., district.

The funding for the program comes through President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” initiative.

KU and the Kansas City, Kan., school district will seek 40 candidates for the first training class, to be held June and July 2004. The recruits will teach in Kansas City, Kan., classrooms in the fall of 2004. Training classes will be by KU faculty in Kansas City, Kan., and at KU’s Edwards Campus in Overland Park.