RIT/NTID Receives $1.2 million Dollar Grant from the U.S. Department of Education

The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) Master of Science Program in Secondary Education (MSSE) has received a $1.2 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education to assist in recruiting and training teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing.  Over the course of five years, much of the grant is expected to be used for scholarships to support students studying to become teachers of the deaf with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  STEM disciplines experience a critical shortage of qualified teachers to teach deaf and hard of hearing students.  Specifically, approximately 20 STEM students and 30 other students (including social studies, English, and American Sign Language) per year will be provided tuition assistance through the grant.  Prospective teachers of the deaf who are African American, Latin American, Native American, and Asian American will also be supported in an attempt to offset the national shortage of teachers with diverse.  Approximately 250 students, a mix of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing, have graduated from the MSSE program since it began accepting students in 1995.  The program is one of the few dual-certification (deaf education plus content area expertise) programs at the secondary level of education in the United States. Tuition assistance may be available for qualified students starting in September 2012. For more information please visit www.ntid.rit.edu/msse.