The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has announced the release of guidelines to apply for 2019-2020 Innovative Teacher and Principal Residency Programs grants.

Approximately $1.75 million in federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Title II, Part A, state set-aside funding is available to support planning, implementation, and/or expansion of innovative, evidence-based teacher and principal/school leader full-year clinical residency models in Pennsylvania. Programs may be designed for undergraduate or post-baccalaureate candidates. Priority will be given to residency models embedded in four-year undergraduate teacher preparation programs. This is the second cycle of a multi-year grant program.

The 2019-2020 Innovative Teacher and Principal Residency Programs application guidelines provide direction to Pennsylvania certification program provider applicants interested in planning new residency models, implementing new residency models, or expanding existing residency models in partnership with one or more high-need local education agencies (LEAs). 

This grant program includes three types of competitive funding opportunities for eligible partnerships: 1) Planning Grant; 2) Implementation Grant; and 3) Expansion Grant.

• Maximum Award per Planning Grant: $75,000

• Maximum Award per Implementation Grant: $550,000 ($300,000 maximum for Year 1 and $250,000 maximum for Year 2, contingent upon available funding)

• Maximum Award per Expansion Grant: $200,000

Applications submitted in response to these guidelines are limited to partnerships aimed at nurturing and sustaining high-quality relationships among and between teacher and/or principal preparation entities and LEAs in high-need areas. The Institution of Higher Education (IHE) or other PA-approved program provider will be the lead applicant; signed agreements with participating LEAs must be provided at the time of application. 

Applications are due on March 29, 2019. More information can be found at PDE’s  Innovative Teacher and Principal Residency Programs Grant web page.

Questions may be directed to Stephanie Stauffer at sstauffer@pa.gov.