photo by: University of Kansas

The University of Kansas' School of Education building is pictured in this file photo.

The University of Kansas is among a trio of schools that will share a $3.75 million grant to recruit experienced teachers who want to become leaders in the field of special education.

KU, the University of Arizona and Wayne State University have been selected by the U.S. Department of Education for a grant that will identify and then pay for the tuition of teachers who want to get a doctorate in the field of special education.

“There is a pressing need to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Preparing doctoral students to take leadership roles, we believe, will help improve those outcomes,” Alison Zagona, assistant professor of special education at KU and one of the principal investigators for the grant, said in a press release. “They will complete this program with the skills needed to be leaders in teaching, research or collaborative administration.”

Officials at the three universities will recruit individuals who already hold a master’s degree and have experience in special education teaching or a comparable field. If selected for the program, the educators will receive full tuition coverage for four years, a living stipend, health insurance and funds to join relevant education organizations.

Each member of the program also will have the chance to work with researchers at the three universities. Additionally, part of the program will include the doctoral candidates filling internships at high need schools in the area.

In addition to Zagona, Jennifer Kurth, professor and chair of the Department of Special Education, will be principal investigators for KU’s portion of the program. People can find out how to apply for the program at the department’s website: specialedu.ku.edu. Look under the funding opportunities tag for specific information.