LAS VEGAS--October 14, 2008--Three College of Education professors at UNLV have been awarded highly competitive grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to improve the quality of special education programs and increase the number of special education teachers - both critical needs in the Clark County School District.

"These grants give us the opportunity to encourage more people to pursue a teaching career and address the national and local shortage of special education teachers," said Tom Pierce, chair of the special education department. "The new teacher training programs will upgrade our curriculum and speed up the process to become licensed."

Special education professors Tom Pierce and Kyle Higgins received a four-year grant worth nearly $800,000 to start a rigorous and accredited training program for new special education teachers. Two-thirds of the funding will be used for tuition assistance. The program will be open to people with a bachelor's degree (in any field) that want to become full-time special education instructors specifically trained to help people with autism or intellectual disabilities. The grant is expected to create 60 new teachers.

Kristin Sayeski, also a special education professor, received a five-year, $500,000 grant to enhance the special education emphasis of the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program.

The award will augment advanced education programs for teachers seeking specialized training in educating students with learning disabilities, emotional disturbance problems or mental retardation. In collaboration with the Clark County School District, UNLV will provide its education students with field experiences in the classroom, mentoring, and innovative post-graduation support.

Sayeski's award was made under the Special Education Preservice Training Improvement Grants Program, which ensures graduates meet the highly qualified teacher requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act. Higgins' and Pierce's grants were awarded through the Office of Special Education Personnel Preparation Programs, which helps improve services and results for children with disabilities.

For additional information on special education programs at UNLV or the specific programs mentioned in this news release, please visit http://education.unlv.edu/sped/ or call (702) 895-3205.