Communication Disorders & Special Education:Scholarships & Grants
Scholarships
VIRGINIA TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP LOAN PROGRAM
Provide financial support to students who are preparing to teach in one of Virginia's critical shortage fields determined annually through the Supply and Demand Survey of Administrative and Instructional Personnel, distributed to every school division in Virginia by the Department of Education.
Scholarships for Special Education Students
THE JOHN ALBERT GAY SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
The John Albert Gay Scholarship Endowment was established in 1982 for a student in special education who specializes in children with emotional disabilities. Contact Teacher Education Services for eligibility determination.
TEACHVIRGINIA TUITION ASSISTANCE INFORMATION
From TeachVirginia Educator Career Center: With the critical shortage of special educators in Virginia, there has never been a better time to seek financial assistance for a career in special education.
THE FRANK HILL KNECHT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
The Frank Hill Knecht Memorial Scholarship Endowment was established in 1982 in memory of Frank Hill Knecht, an alumna and retired ODU staff member by his sister, Lena Rosa Conley. The recipient will be an undergraduate or graduate student majoring in education, preferably special education. The student will possess motivation and demonstrate financial need. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for more information.
Scholarships for Speech-Language Pathology Students
NORFOLK SERTOMA CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS
Several scholarships are offered each year to Masters students in speech-language Pathology. Preference is given to students who are actively involved in the ODU campus or the Norfolk and Hampton Roads community.
BENNETT’S CREEK SERTOMA CLUB SCHOLARSHIP
One scholarship is offered annually to a Master's degree student in speech-language pathology. Preference is given to a student who is a resident of Suffolk.
TIDEWATER SCOTTISH RITE SCHOLARSHIPS
Six $6,000 scholarships are offered annually to Master's degree students in speech-language pathology. Scholarships are offered based on academic performance among the top applicants to the graduate program each Fall.
Information about Speech-Language Pathology scholarships is available from the graduate program director, Dr. Stacie Raymer (sraymer@odu.edu).
Grants
TEACH GRANT
Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.
ACSD CONSORTIUM FOR ENDORSEMENT IN ADAPTED CURRICULUM
The Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Special Education Adapted Curriculum (ACSD) is comprised of six state-approved teacher preparation programs in special education: adapted curriculum K-12. Participating universities are George Mason University; Virginia Commonwealth University; Norfolk State University; Radford University; James Madison University; and Old Dominion University. The consortium's primary goal is to prepare teachers across the commonwealth to be highly skilled and effective in teaching learners with severe and multiple disabilities. The program is designed to accelerate the training for teachers with newly-issued provisional licenses and to increase the number of fully endorsed teachers by providing training to full-time pre-service personnel. All courses are online and tuition assistance is available.
THE VIRGINIA CONSORTIUM FOR TEACHER PREPARATION IN VISION IMPAIRMENT
The VI Consortium is the only academic program for preparing teachers of students with blindness and visual impairments in Virginia and is comprised of three universities: George Mason University, Dominion University, and Radford University. Its primary goal is to prepare teachers to be highly skilled at working with students with blindness and visual impairments who require special education services. Completion of the VI program meets the Virginia Department of Education's required competencies for the blindness and visual impairments endorsement. All courses are online and tuition assistance is available.
PARAPROFESSIONAL PREPARATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY TEACHING GRANT
The Paraprofessional Preparation for Extraordinary Teaching (PPET) program provides the coursework necessary for individuals with bachelor's degrees from regionally accredited universities to become eligible for a Virginia teaching license in special education: general curriculum K-12. Teachers with special education: general curriculum K-12 teaching licenses are in high demand and serve students with mild to moderate disabilities. All courses are online and tuition discounts are available for individuals working in Virginia Public Schools.
COMMONWEALTH SPECIAL EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM GRANT
The purpose of The Commonwealth Special Education Endorsement Program (CSEEP) is to provide a path to full licensure eligibility in special education: general curriculum K-12 for teachers in Virginia who hold provisional licenses. All courses are online and tuition assistance is available.
Grad Assistantships
MASTER’S STUDENTS
Several graduate assistantships are available to students in the master's programs in speech-language pathology and special education. The assistantships come with a semester stipend. No tuition is included. Duties include providing administrative support and faculty support for teaching or research.
DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Four doctoral student assistantships are available to students in the special education doctoral program. The assistantships typically support graduate teaching assistants for the program.
