The Supporting Effective Educator Development grant program is now accepting applications in an effort to increase the pipeline of highly effective educators, the U.S. Department of Education announced in a news release.
The SEED program will award $65 million to support the implementation of evidence-based practices that prepare, develop, or enhance the skills of educators. These grants also will enable recipients to develop, expand and evaluate practices that can serve as models that can be sustained, replicated and scaled. This program is part of targeted efforts that will provide comprehensive, high-quality pathways into the profession, such as residency and Grow Your Own programs, and evidence-based professional development all focused on building and supporting a more diverse educator pipeline.
“We know that in order to improve education across the country and meet our students where they are, we must invest in teacher professional learning, recruitment and retention. This past year, we heard from our educators, parents, and leaders that investing in teachers is investing in students. We are ready to act on that!” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “This grant competition will support institutions of higher education, national nonprofits and other eligible partners that provide teachers and school leaders with effective strategies for building inclusive, unbiased and safe learning environments that support the academic, social, and emotional needs of every student. Building an education system that is the best in the world requires an investment in our dedicated teachers.”
The SEED program fosters the use of rigorous evidence-based practices in selecting and implementing strategies and interventions that support educators’ development across the continuum of their careers. Support for educator preparation programs and high-quality professional development are vital to ensure that all students have access to well-prepared and qualified teachers, principals and other school leaders. These programs invest in educators who are effective and likely to stay in the profession. Research shows that existing educator shortages disproportionately impact students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities, and, often, rural communities.
The fiscal year 2022 SEED grant competition will close June 3, 2022.