Teacher Candidate Scholarship Fund

LDA's new Teacher Prep & Licensure Program trains special education teachers for the Academic Behavioral Strategist (ABS) License.   Two goals for the program are:

- to increase the racial diversity of teachers of special education

- to provide an alternative pathway to teaching for teacher candidates who are working in schools and want an opportunity to learn while working on their teaching license.

Many of LDA's teacher candidates have asked for financial assistance to help pay for the program.  Though LDA's program is an affordable option to teacher licensure, the majority of our candidates are currently in the role of paraprofessional or education assistant and therefore are hourly paid employees working to gain greater responsibility and pay through a special education teaching license.

LDA's Teacher Prep Scholarship fund will help offer candidates financial support and an opportunity for greater future earnings, while making a difference in the lives of students with disabilities.

Unique to LDA's program is our mentoring of teacher candidates.  Our mentors are all current special education teachers or leaders.  Learn more about our mentoring in our video.