Texas Center for Education Policy Awarded $400,000 Grant for Grow-Your-Own Teacher Initiative - April 19th, 2011
The University of Texas at Austin, the Texas Center for Education Policy (TCEP) and the National Latino Education Research and Policy project have received a $400,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to spur the development of a community-based, university-connected, Grow-Your-Own Teacher Initiative in five states around the country.
Dr. Valenzuela
Dr. Vincent
TCEP is part of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE) at The University of Texas at Austin. Other participating universities include the University of North Texas, California State Sacramento University, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Illinois in Chicago and Brooklyn College.
"This grant could not have come at a better time. In addition to the effects of the education budget cuts, many teachers are poised to retire in the near future. These changes and changing demographics make it imperative to populate the ranks with the kinds of knowledge, skills and sensibilities that I am confident our world-class scholars can generate under the auspices of this grant," said Dr. Angela Valenzuela, director of the TCEP, a professor in the College of Education’s Department of Educational Administration and Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and associate vice president for diversity and community engagement.
Dr. Gregory Vincent, vice president for diversity and community engagement and professor in the College of Education’s Department of Educational Administration, said, "The DDCE appreciates the Kellogg Foundation award. It is a testament of the excellent work TCEP is doing on this important national initiative to get effective, high-quality teachers in the classroom."
The TCEP grant builds on a multi-year commitment on behalf of multiple partners, including postsecondary institutions, community-based organizations, businesses and public officials. They seek to invigorate under-resourced schools and communities with an on-going, infusion of human, material and intellectual resources in order to address the teacher preparation and retention crises in our states and nation, as well as the underrepresentation of Latino/a teachers (7.1 percent nationally).
Since its inception in the College of Education in 2005, the TCEP has been an authoritative resource for state policymakers. TCEP uses research to advocate for high-quality education for all, in particular, historically disadvantaged students in Texas public schools.
