Nevada education officials have awarded grants aimed at getting 134 students through fast-track teacher training programs in time for next school year. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports.
The Nevada Board of Education voted last week to award more than $2.3 million in scholarship money to six institutions with what are called Alternative Routes to Licensure programs, which allow people with bachelor's degrees to transition into teaching.
The grants are part of the Teach Nevada Scholarship Program introduced by Governor Brian Sandoval.
Nevada still had nearly 1,000 teacher vacancies statewide last month, filled mostly by long-term subs.
Trevon Milliard reports onK-12 education for the Reno Gazette Journal and talked to us recently on this issue, pointing out that some education advocates were disappointed at how the shortage was addressed during the last legislative session.
"Hiring teachers and retaining teachers was not part of the discussion of all the reforms," says Milliard. "It was almost an afterthought at the very end. 'Oh, let's add on some hiring bonuses. Let's get some scholarships.' It wasn't a part of the bedrock of the plan. It just came afterwards."
Institutions that are receiving the new teacher scholarships include Washoe and Humboldt County school districts, National University, Western Governor's University, UNLV and Sierra Nevada College.