The Mississippi Department of Education awards almost $10 million grants to five universities to help fight the state’s teacher shortage.

William Carey University and Delta State received about $1.9 million each while the University of Southern Mississippi, Jackson State University, and Mississippi State received grants of about $2 million.

The grants are part of the Mississippi Teacher Residency and they support graduate degree programs.

Student teachers will work in critical shortage areas serving low-income children, racial-ethnic minorities, and children with disabilities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. USM College of Education and Human Services Dean Trent Gould said, “Reports back from the superintendents that we have is that our students are doing really well and that they’re staying in the profession, and that in of itself – the retention piece which is a piece that we can influence as education preparation programs. That’s a piece that we can influence, and that feels good to be able to do that.”

The grant period will begin in July 2022.

Source: https://www.wxxv25.com/mississippi-department-of-education-awards-grants-to-five-universities/