Media Advisory

For the past four years, the Johns Hopkins University and Prince George's County Public Schools have been tackling a national problem — the shortage of certified special education teachers in public schools — in their own backyard.

The Partnership for Beginning Special Educators will have produced 33 fully certified special education teachers when its last class graduates in August 2006. When the fourth and final class of students finishes the program, the county's vacancy rate for special educators will be cut almost in half.

Although the federal funding that started the program won't be supporting any additional cohorts, partnership program will continue. Participants in the two-year program pursue a master's degree leading to certification to teach students with mild to moderate disabilities. Upon completion of the two-year program, teacher candidates are required to teach for four years in the county's public schools. Potential students are encouraged to find out more by calling 1-800-GO-TO-JHU or e-mailing edspsbe@jhu.edu.

For comments, contact:
- Peggy King-Sears, special education professor at Johns Hopkins, at 301-294-7040
- Charlene Rohlehr, a Prince George's County resident and student in the program

A full-length news release and a profile of Rohlehr are available online here.