The College of Education and Health Professions has 25 full scholarships to cover tuition, books and fees for certified practicing Arkansas teachers looking to expand their skills to meet the diverse needs of pre-K students with disabilities by earning an Arkansas endorsement in Early Childhood Pre-K Special Education.

Scholarships for the Online Early Childhood Pre-K Special Education Academy are funded by an Arkansas Department of Education grant. Interested teachers should contact academy director Nicolette Caldwell at nsammar@uark.edu before Nov. 27.

Those selected will receive information on how to apply to the U of A Graduate School. Candidates must be able to complete all requirements within one year with online academy courses beginning in January 2024.

"Our fully funded ECSE Pre-K Teacher Academy provides Arkansas educators with the opportunity to strengthen and expand their existing expertise in early childhood education to include recommended practices for supporting young children with delays or disabilities in inclusive settings," academy director Nicolette Caldwell said. "The benefits of inclusive education are immense, and we are thrilled to play a part in increasing high quality, evidence-based inclusive education in our public Arkansas pre-K programs."

Arkansas classroom teachers who are currently employed in an Arkansas public school or educational cooperative on behalf of a school district to serve students with disabilities, and licensed in early childhood pre-K, childhood preschool-4 or elementary education K-6, are eligible to apply for the scholarships which will include support from faculty with expertise in early childhood special education. Teachers can use the 12 credit hours earned in this program toward the 36 hours required for an M.Ed. in special education from the U of A.

For more information, contact Nicolette Caldwell by email or phone at nsammar@uark.edu or 479-575-2685.