Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence—Teacher Preparation and Development

Program funds can be used to support the following activities that: Examine the sources of inequity and inadequacy in resources and opportunity and implement pedagogical practices in teacher preparation programs that are inclusive with regard to race, ethnicity, culture, language, and disability status and that prepare teachers to create inclusive, supportive, equitable, unbiased, and identity-safe learning environments for their students; Prepare teacher candidates to integrate rigorous academic content, including through the effective use of technology, instructional techniques, and strategies consistent with universal design for learning principles in pedagogical practices and classroom features to improve student achievement; Prepare teacher candidates to design and deliver instruction in ways that are engaging and provide their students with opportunities to think critically and solve complex problems, apply learning in authentic and real-world settings, communicate and collaborate effectively, and develop academic mindsets, including through project-based, work-based, or other experiential learning opportunities; Prepare teacher candidates to build meaningful and trusting relationships with their students' families to support in-home, community-based, and in-school learning; and Provide sustained and high-quality preservice clinical experiences, including teaching assistant initiatives that facilitate the pathway to the teaching credential for those with paraprofessional experience; and provide mentoring of teacher candidates by exemplary teachers, which substantially increases interaction between the institution's faculty and new teachers and school site and district administrators in high-need LEAs or hard-to-staff schools to support and retain teachers. In providing such experiences, the Department encourages applicants to consider opportunities to provide preservice clinical experience earlier in the teacher preparation program, as is practicable, and in ways that benefit students and teachers. The Hawkins Centers of Excellence program is designed to support a diverse and well-prepared pipeline of effective educators by expanding and reforming teacher education programs at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs), Historically Black Graduate Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges or Universities, Alaska Native-serving Institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions, and Native American-serving Nontribal Institutions. The program authorizes competitive awards of up to 5 years in length to eligible institutions of higher education to strengthen and expand their teacher preparation programs by establishing centers of excellence. The minimum grant amount is $500,000. Grants must be used for one or more of the following activities: • Implementing reforms within teacher preparation programs to ensure that such programs are preparing teachers who meet applicable State certification and licensure requirements, which may include qualifications related to meeting the needs of students with disabilities, through retraining or recruiting faculty and designing evidence-based programs that promote effective teaching skills and prepare teachers to serve in under resourced schools and close student opportunity and academic achievement gaps. • Providing extensive, sustained, and high-quality preservice clinical experience, including the mentoring of prospective teachers by exemplary teachers. • Developing and implementing initiatives to promote retention of teachers and principals of color, such as programs that provide teacher or principal mentoring or induction and support for teachers and principals during their first 3 years of employment.