Students met in small groups with CIU 20 staff to learn about what they do and how to obtain education and certifications needed to achieve certain career pathways, including: Assistive Technology, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Teachers of the Visually Impaired.
The event stemmed from the "Developing Future Special Educators Grant" that Colonial IU 20 was awarded by PDE, in partnership with Pocono Mountain SD and East Stroudsburg University. The grant is part of PDE's APR initiative.
Attract, Prepare, and Retain (APR) is a priority of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Special Education (BSE) with a primary focus that is three-fold:
Attract skilled, compassionate, and diverse individuals to the varied career options within the field of special education
Prepare special education personnel by building capacity through targeted professional development, technical assistance, and supports
Retain special education personnel long-term through the collective efforts of federal, state, and local entities