Connecticut received a $4,735,615 federal grant over five years to expand career pathways and workforce readiness for special education and early intervention teachers, according to the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE).
The new Connecticut Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Pathways for Special Education and Early Intervention grant will address the shortage while building upon the current $2 million investment in the Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, which lets educators earn a salary at Connecticut public schools while completing training for their teacher certification, CSDE said.
“Connecticut has been investing in new ways to build our educator workforce, and this federal grant will help us take that work even further,” Governor Ned Lamont said. “By expanding apprenticeship opportunities in special education and early intervention, we can prepare more people for these important careers while making sure our students and families have access to the skilled professionals they need.”
In 2025, there were around 87,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students with a disability in Connecticut, an upward trend in the last five years, according to EDSight.
There is a statewide shortage in special education teachers for the 2026-2027 academic year, CSDE said. Josh Martin, president of the Connecticut Council of Administrators of Special Education, said he looks forward to implementing the grant to support students and educators statewide.
“School districts, and especially special education administrators work tirelessly to fill these positions every day, so we know firsthand how the shortage affects our most vulnerable students,” Martin said. “We welcome this investment, including its focus on early intervention.”
Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker said this investment gives students the opportunity to grow, recognize their potential, and get the support they need to thrive in the classroom.
This grant will scale special education teachers through apprenticeship, introduce middle and high school students to careers in special education, and build a pipeline of early intervention specialists.
The CTDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship Training (OAT) plays a key role in ensuring Apprenticeship Programs meet high-quality federal and state standards, CSDE said. Danté Bartolomeo, CTDOL Commissioner, said that Registered Apprenticeship Programs and the grant will give new special education teachers the skills and resources they need to excel.
“By investing in and supporting this workforce, we strengthen not only individual outcomes, but the entire community,” OEC Commissioner Elena Trueworthy said. “Using this grant to continue developing the skill sets of highly qualified early interventionists helps to build the workforce pipeline and provide high-quality services for young children.”
Connecticut received a $4,735,615 federal grant over five years to expand career pathways and workforce readiness for special education and early intervention teachers, according to the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE).
The new Connecticut Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Pathways for Special Education and Early Intervention grant will address the shortage while building upon the current $2 million investment in the Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, which lets educators earn a salary at Connecticut public schools while completing training for their teacher certification, CSDE said.
“Connecticut has been investing in new ways to build our educator workforce, and this federal grant will help us take that work even further,” Governor Ned Lamont said. “By expanding apprenticeship opportunities in special education and early intervention, we can prepare more people for these important careers while making sure our students and families have access to the skilled professionals they need.”
In 2025, there were around 87,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students with a disability in Connecticut, an upward trend in the last five years, according to EDSight.
There is a statewide shortage in special education teachers for the 2026-2027 academic year, CSDE said. Josh Martin, president of the Connecticut Council of Administrators of Special Education, said he looks forward to implementing the grant to support students and educators statewide.
"School districts, and especially special education administrators work tirelessly to fill these positions every day, so we know firsthand how the shortage affects our most vulnerable students," Martin said. "We welcome this investment, including its focus on early intervention."
Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker said this investment gives students the opportunity to grow, recognize their potential, and get the support they need to thrive in the classroom.
This grant will scale special education teachers through apprenticeship, introduce middle and high school students to careers in special education, and build a pipeline of early intervention specialists.
The CTDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship Training (OAT) plays a key role in ensuring Apprenticeship Programs meet high-quality federal and state standards, CSDE said. Danté Bartolomeo, CTDOL Commissioner, said that Registered Apprenticeship Programs and the grant will give new special education teachers the skills and resources they need to excel.
“By investing in and supporting this workforce, we strengthen not only individual outcomes, but the entire community," OEC Commissioner Elena Trueworthy said. "Using this grant to continue developing the skill sets of highly qualified early interventionists helps to build the workforce pipeline and provide high-quality services for young children.”