Wenatchee Valley College Secures $70K Grant to Support Local Paraeducators' Transition to Teaching

Wenatchee Valley College's Bachelor of Applied Science in Teaching program has received a $70,000 Alternative Routes Block Grant (ARBG) for 2024-26. The Professional Educator Standards Board provided this grant to support local paraeducators in obtaining their teacher certifications. The ARBG grant aims to help colleges develop new teacher training strategies, addressing workforce needs and promoting diversity.

The grant enables students to work in their school district while earning their teaching certificate. It also provides five scholarships for paraeducators transitioning to teaching roles. Each two-year scholarship totals $14,000 per year, with funds allocated to the candidate, mentor teacher, substitute teachers, and additional program support.

Candidates for the scholarship must be current preschool-third grade paraeducators or district-wide paraeducators who can work in a P-3 setting throughout the program. They must have an AA degree or at least 90 college credits, a background in early childhood education, and commit to teaching in a Washington state K-12 public school for two years post-graduation.

The ARBG was created to address educator shortages in subject matter, specific regions, and educator roles. In North Central Educational Service District (ESD 171), early childhood and special education are areas with teacher shortages. Wenatchee Valley College offers the Bachelor of Applied Science in Teaching on the Omak and Wenatchee campuses, with most in-person instruction on the Omak campus.

Wenatchee Valley College is dedicated to meeting the educational and cultural needs of North Central Washington communities. The college offers high-quality education for students of diverse backgrounds and is committed to equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment.

This article has been enhanced with AI assistance. Agree to access AI-generated content by clicking here, or opt for content with less AI influence here.