Saint Paul, MN - Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan April 17, 2024 announced nearly $20 million in grants to build the state’s special education workforce. The Minnesota Department of Education has awarded 25 Minnesota school districts, charter schools, and cooperatives with Special Education Pipeline grants to increase the number of special education teachers across the state.

“With this funding, educators and schools will be able to help more students get the resources they need to succeed,”said Governor Walz. “This is a big step on our path to building our education workforce and making Minnesota the best state for kids.”

“I’m proud of the work Minnesota is doing to make sure every student and educator has the resources they need,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “Special education teachers play a critical role in our schools. With these grants, we can ensure that special education professionals and students can thrive in Minnesota.”

The grants will increase the number of special education teachers licensed at the Tier 3 or Tier 4 levels. Fifteen of the grants, totaling about $13 million were awarded in Greater Minnesota, with 10 grants totaling about $7 million awarded in the Twin Cities Metro Area. The funds will be used to benefit 150 districts, charter schools, and cooperatives that are working with the awardees as joint grant recipients.

“With a teacher shortage especially in special education, our schools and districts need support to ensure we are providing a high-quality education to all students,” said Commissioner Willie Jett. “We are working to create the best education workforce in the nation, and this program will help our schools and districts to prepare and recruit special education teachers and address the shortages now being experienced by districts and schools.”

The funding will be used by districts, charter schools, and cooperatives to support employees who are Tier 1 or Tier 2 licensed teachers and paraprofessionals or other unlicensed staff who have demonstrated a willingness to be a special education teacher after completing the program. The districts, charter schools, and cooperatives will use the funding to provide tuition assistance or stipends, for participant recruitment, and for supports for participants including mentoring, licensure test preparation, and technology support.

Governor Walz signed these grants into law last spring as part of the Education Bill. Another $10 million in these grants will be awarded this summer.

The Minnesota Department of Education established the Educator Workforce and Development Center to create more programs to support districts, schools, communities, and Tribal Nations in their work to recruit, diversify, develop, and retain educators in Minnesota.

Additional grants supporting the teaching workforce are focused on:

- Expanding teacher mentorship programs

- Supporting principal leadership

- Encouraging teachers of color and American Indian teachers from out of state to take teaching positions in Minnesota

- Preparing American Indian people to become teachers and providing additional education for American Indian teachers

- Supporting teacher residency and apprenticeship programs