CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will receive a grant of almost $250,000 from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to develop four-year teacher preparation programs.

California is experiencing a shortage of K-12 teachers with science, mathematics, special education and bilingual education credentials, so this grant will enable CSUCI to graduate career-ready teachers in four years, rather than the usual five years.

Chair and Professor of Education, Bob Bleicher, Ph.D., who secured the grant, explained that teacher candidates traditionally earn a four-year baccalaureate in Liberal Studies, then apply to become a special education or bilingual education teacher which requires an extra year of post-baccalaureate study. This grant will enable CSUCI to tighten and tailor classes so that teachers can graduate earlier and be ready to teach sooner.

“You can actually apply for a job during the final semester of your senior year,” Bleicher said.

The emphasis of CSUCI’s four-year integrated pathway will be to develop Bilingual and Special Education teachers.

CSUCI is among 17 CSU campuses receiving Integrated Program Grants from the CTC to help expand the number of teacher candidates earning science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), Special Education and bilingual credentials.

These grants should enable the CSU campuses to triple the number of new teachers graduating each year with STEM, Special Education and Bilingual credentials. The CSUs currently graduate about 6,500 credentialed teachers each year.

“The new format not only increases the number of teacher candidates graduating annually but also provides monetary benefits to CSU students,” said Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Teacher Education Program and Public School Programs for the CSU.

“CSU teacher candidates will save, on average, about $20,000 by eliminating the cost of an additional year of tuition, college-related expenses and textbooks,” she added. “In addition, to incentivize more students to enter the teaching profession, teacher candidates will also be eligible for $16,000 in state and federal grants. There’s never been a better time to enter the profession given these new flexible credentialing options and financial incentives.”

CSU produces more teacher candidates than any other campus system in the state and leads the nation in preparing teachers.

CSUCI is working closely with the community colleges, especially Oxnard College, where the Dean of Liberal Studies, Art Sandford, Ph.D., is the co-project director with Bleicher.

The grant will allow representatives from CSUCI and Oxnard College to visit high schools and recruit those who may not have considered a career in teaching. It will also help Oxnard College develop new courses to enable transfer students to make a smooth transition to CSUCI’s four-year integrated teaching program.

CSUCI’s new four-year integrated teaching programs will begin admitting students in fall 2018.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CSUCI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CSUCI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CSUCI’s Social Media.