Two Cal State campuses among 30 awarded federal teaching grants

Two California State University campuses have been awarded federal grants to recruit new teachers for  schools with special needs, such as those serving rural areas and Native American communities, officials announced Thursday.

The Cal State campuses -- Fullerton and Dominguez Hills -- were among five California institutions and 30 nationally to receive $12.8 million in grants as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Transition to Teaching program. 

The program aims to recruit and train mid-career professionals and recent graduates with degrees outside of education for placement at schools in rural or low-income communities and with particular staffing needs in such subjects as science; technology; engineering and math; and bilingual and special education.

The projects are funded for five years and an estimated 4,800 new teachers are expected to be certified in fast-track courses.  Candidates are required to commit to teach for at least three years.