In this Issue: Financial Aid

Introduction
OSEP Personnel Preparation Grants Database Searchable Online
Federal Student Loan Cancellation for Teachers
Additional Sources of Student Financial Aid

Introduction

Each month Connections brings you practical information, research, and established programs and strategies for recruiting, preparing, and retaining well-qualified diverse educators and related services personnel for children and youth with disabilities. Through Connections, the Clearinghouse continues its 15 year history as a resource to aspiring teachers and professionals in the field of special education

This month the newsletter connects you to resources for persons searching for financial aid to become a special educator. A featured resource is the Clearinghouse's searchable database for OSEP personnel preparation grants, as well as the forecast for grant proposals. Remember! The OSEP grants database can be searched by state as a recruitment tool. Graduates of an OSEP funded personnel preparation program do have a two year teaching obligation for every year that funds were used.

OSEP Personnel Preparation Grants Database Searchable Online

The National Clearinghouse maintains and annually updates the only online directory of OSEP's Personnel Preparation Grants in Special Education. This database contains program descriptions and contact information for the nearly 400 projects currently funded by the Research to Practice Division of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The database is searchable by state, degree level, and keyword. In addition, advanced search options allow searches by project director or grant competition name, program focus, or the age and disability of the students to benefit from the grant project. Find the OSEP grants database and links to more information about the service obligation requirements for OSEP grants on the NCPSE website.

Currently, there are 382 OSEP personnel preparation grants in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Federation of Micronesia. You can view a map showing the distribution of OSEP grants in NCPSE's Just the Facts.

For additional information about the OSEP grant program, visit the Department of Education's Grants Resources Page. There you will find Federal Register grant announcements, discretionary grant application packages, and federal grant forecasts. You can find more specific information on special education personnel preparation grants here (scroll down to 84.325 A, D, E, and H).

Federal Student Loan Cancellation for Teachers

Teachers working in low income or subject matter shortage areas, such as special education, may be able to defer or cancel their federal student loans. Both Perkins and Stafford loans are included in the program. However, the student must have taken the loans during a certain period to be eligible for deferment or cancellation. More information on existing student loan cancellation/deferment options for teachers is available here.

Additional Sources of Student Financial Aid

In addition to federal loans, loan cancellation programs, and OSEP grants, most states now have financial aid for higher education programs in place. A directory of these programs can be found here. There are also many scholarship search services available online. Some allow custom searches based on a student's state of residence, area of academic interest, and minority and/or disability status. Visit NCPSE's financial aid resource page to find a list of online scholarship search engines.

The National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education is the descriptive title for the National Clearinghouse on Careers and Professions Related to Early Intervention and Education for Children with Disabilities Cooperative Agreement H326P980002 between the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Exceptional Children. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of either the U. S. Department of Education or the Council for Exceptional Children. This information is in the public domain, unless otherwise indicated. Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the National Clearinghouse for professions in Special Education. U. S. Department of Education Project Officer Martha B. Bokee