New Grants Empower Cal Poly to Recruit and Train Diverse Educators

Over $8 Million in Federal Funding to Support Cal Poly’s Educational Initiatives

Cal Poly's School of Education has recently secured over $8 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education, targeting significant educational challenges. This funding will support recruiting, training, and supporting a diverse group of more than 1,500 teachers to tackle current classroom challenges and address teacher shortages.

Data from the educational research organization WestEd indicates that approximately one in ten teaching positions across the U.S. are either unfilled or occupied by individuals lacking certifications. Bilingual elementary and special education teachers are identified as some of the groups most affected by these shortages.

The funding will support two main initiatives: BRILLANTE and INSPIRE. The first, BRILLANTE (Bilingual Responsive Instruction for Language Learners and New Teachers/Educators), is focused on recruiting and training bilingual educators.  $3.3 million will be used as a grant to support the Bilingual Responsive Instruction for Language Learners. This project aims to help 80 undergraduate bilingual scholars and train 135 bilingual educators to serve diverse student populations. The second initiative, INSPIRE (Innovative Support and Preparation of Inclusive and Resilient Educators) will use a separate $4.6 million grant to recruit a more diverse pool of prospective teachers and enhance clinical experiences and curricula to align with research-based practices in inclusive education. This project will support around 1,350 prospective or current teachers through various training and credential resources.

Cal Poly plans to partner with local school districts, Cuesta and Allan Hancock community colleges, and community organizations such as the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project and the California Mini-Corps Program. Jess Jensen, an associate professor in the School of Education and a co-principal investigator of the INSPIRE grant, stated that they will be involved in supporting the entire trajectory of a teaching career, from recruitment through teacher-training programs, and will continue to provide support for practicing teachers.

The grants will also fund the development of models and programs across various institutional levels, engaging educational leadership. Jensen elaborated that the partner organizations bring different areas of expertise, and their collective effort aims to break down educational silos to train and sustain a successful pool of teachers.

Editor’s Note:

Cal Poly's School of Education has secured over $8 million in federal grants aimed at addressing pressing educational challenges, particularly the critical shortage of qualified teachers. This funding marks a significant step toward enhancing teacher recruitment, training, and support, with a focus on diversifying the teaching workforce.
The initiatives, BRILLANTE and INSPIRE, underscore Cal Poly’s commitment to equipping educators with the necessary skills to serve diverse student populations and promote inclusive educational practices. By collaborating with local school districts and community organizations, Cal Poly is not only addressing current classroom challenges but also fostering a sustainable pipeline of skilled educators.

Skoobuzz appreciates the efforts in transforming education and looks forward to seeing the positive impact these initiatives will have on the future of teaching in communities.