The U.S. Department of Education is accepting applications for competitive grants in the hopes of improving teacher quality, alleviating the shortage of educators, and improving student achievement.
The Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program is an opportunity for colleges to pair up with local education agencies (LEAs) to present ideas for plans that could be implemented to improve different aspects of the educational sphere.
The program is offering a total of $35 million in awards, which can be used to bolster both teacher preparation and teacher residency programs.
According to a press release on February 24, eligible partnerships between higher education institutions and high-need LEAs are able to apply to the program.
LEAs include school districts, charter schools, public boards of education, and other entities that oversee education policies. To compete for the grants, the agencies must collaborate with colleges to propose changes and improvements to existing programs or the creation of a new program altogether.
Priority is placed on plans that address the following: educator diversity, recruitment, selection, preparation, support, development, and effectiveness; educational adequacy and equity; and students’ social, emotional, and academic needs.
The TQP program also has a Leadership Program priority in which applicants can design a program to prepare future school leaders, program directors, principals, and superintendents.
The U.S. Department of Education encourages applicants to also apply for partnership grants to establish Grow Your Own (GYO) programs.
The Biden-Harris Administration has pushed for investment into teacher preparation such as GYO programs, which are intended to encourage the addition of new educators to the workforce, alleviate educator shortages, and reinforce educator support and growth.
According to the department, both GYO programs and teaching residency programs can help address the shortage of educators by increasing teacher retention. Per the release, the Biden Administration believes that high-quality, comprehensive teacher residency programs produce more effective teachers who are more likely to stay in the profession.
Retention of educators has become a pressing matter recently, as teacher shortages have become more dire since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The National Education Association (NEA) conducted a survey at the beginning of February that found 55% of teachers were considering leaving the profession.
In a press release on January 27, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona stressed the importance of supporting teacher development programs.
“Across the country, we must continue the necessary work of developing a strong, diverse educator workforce for today and tomorrow,” he said. “High-quality educator preparation programs and teacher residencies are integral to this effort. Effective programs have positive effects on teacher candidates – including boosting the likelihood that they will remain in the profession – and they increase the impact that great teachers have on student learning.”
The Department of Education estimates it will hand out twenty-five to thirty awards through the TQP program. The estimated award amount for an applicant is $1 million for the project’s first year. Funds may adjust for the following years, depending on availability. The grant runs for a total of 5 years.
According to the application on the Federal Register, the Department of Education encourages applicants to “submit a notice of intent to apply” by March 28. The deadline for the application is April 26, and the deadline for an intergovernmental review is scheduled for June 27.
