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# U.S. Department of Education Announces First-Ever Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program Grants to Strengthen Teachers of Color Pipeline and Address Teacher Shortage

# U.S. Department of Education Announces First-Ever Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program Grants to Strengthen Teachers of Color Pipeline and Address Teacher Shortage

February 15, 2023

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
Today, the U.S. Department of Education (Department)  announced first-ever awards, totaling over $18 million, for the Augustus F.  Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program grants to increase high-quality teacher  preparation programs for teachers of color, strengthen the diversity of our  teacher pipeline, and address teacher shortages.

The Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program (Hawkins Program), named for Augustus F. Hawkins, the first Black politician  elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from west of the Mississippi  River, supports comprehensive, high-quality teacher preparation programs at  Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled  Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). A  priority in President Biden’s FY 22 budget proposal, this year marks the first  time the Hawkins Program has received funding since its creation in 2008.  From the FY 2022 appropriation for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, Congress allocated $8 million for the Hawkins program. The Department is also using funds appropriated for the Hawkins Program in FY 2023 to bring the total for these grants to over $18 million.

“Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, I’m incredibly  proud to announce the first-ever Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program grants,  which will help Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally  Controlled Colleges and Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions recruit  and prepare a new generation of diverse and talented individuals into the  teaching profession,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Today,  more than half of our learners nationwide are students of color, and yet fewer  than 1 in 5 educators come from communities of color. I’ll never forget the  impact that my first teacher of color had on me as a student, and my experience  tracks closely with years of research suggesting the profound, positive  influence that educators of color have on students of all backgrounds."

Recently, Secretary Cardona laid out his vision to  promote academic excellence, improve learning conditions, and prepare our  students for a world where global engagement is critical to our nation’s  standing. A key focus in his “Raise the Bar” agenda is to boldly strengthen the teacher pipeline to eliminate the educator shortage  for every school. Across the country, school districts – particularly in  underserved communities– are working to address longstanding educator shortages  which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. As of October 2022, 27 percent of public  schools had multiple teaching vacancies. These shortages  were particularly acute for schools in high-poverty neighborhoods and schools  with large portions of students of color where more than half of schools had  multiple teaching vacancies (57 percent and 60 percent, respectively).

The Hawkins Program builds on the Department’s efforts to  strengthen and diversify the teacher pipeline, especially as states and  districts work to meet their staffing needs.

HBCUs, TCCUs, and MSIs are uniquely positioned to  recruit, prepare, and place teachers who will provide culturally and  linguistically responsive teaching in underserved schools. Grantees were  selected based on their focus on key aspects of a high-quality teacher  preparation pipeline, including evidence-based, comprehensive teacher  preparation that emphasize classroom experience and mentorship.

Today’s teacher workforce does not reflect the  demographics of the nation’s public school students. More than 50% of public  school students are students of color, yet in 2017-18, the most recent year of  available data, roughly 25% of teachers were teachers of  color. And while English learners (ELs) are the fastest growing public school  student demographic, comprising more than 10% of America’s enrollment, most  states face a shortage of bilingual and multilingual teachers prepared and  certified for language instruction or to teach ELs. These roles are critical  for ensuring Americans can compete in the increasingly globalized economy,  guaranteeing equal access to education opportunity for ELs, and creating a  strong economy in which all Americans can thrive. Through their applications,  all 12 grantees met a competitive priority by proposing projects designed to  increase the number of well-prepared teachers from diverse backgrounds, as well  as bilingual and multilingual teachers with full certification.

The Hawkins Program awardees are listed below:

 
**Grantee**
**State**

**Award**

**Project    Summary**

California State University Dominguez Hills

CA

$1,599,946

Increase number of teachers of color credentialed    through teacher training and bilingual programs, and increase wraparound    supports to improve completion and retention of future educators.

Metropolitan State University

CO

$1,571,926

Increase completion rates of traditionally    underrepresented students by providing comprehensive support for current and    prospective students.

Florida International University

FL

$1,565,498

Create four teacher preparation tracks, including a    cohort of paraprofessionals already in partnering districts, two cohorts of    English speakers, two cohorts bilingual Spanish/English speakers, and two    cohorts of bilingual Haitian Creole/English. The program will reduce the    barriers that typically affect enrollment in teacher preparation programs,    including paid teaching experiences, test preparation, and dedicated    advising.

University of Hawaii

HI

$1,592,314

Expand existing special educator training to increase    and retain more bilingual/multilingual teachers of color to serve students in    the rural and remote areas across Hawaii.

National Louis University

IL

$1,341,279

Implement three multi-pathway residency programs    designed specifically to increase the access, participation and success of    diverse and multilingual school paraprofessionals by incorporating culturally    responsive teaching and learning standards, an evidence-based learning    community, and multilingual supports for academic and licensure success.

Bowie State University

MD

$1,589,014

Recruit and prepare black male educators in early    childhood/special education, elementary, or secondary education who can    provide effective, culturally relevant/responsive instruction and work with    minoritized students and families

William Paterson University of New Jersey

NJ

$1,599,999

Provide support to school districts throughout the area    near Wayne, NJ, to focus on reducing barriers in teacher recruitment, placing    teacher candidates in high need areas, and support high need areas through    university-district partnerships. The long-term goal is to replicate these    practices in school districts around the state.

Medgar Evers College of the City of New York

NY

$1,599,738

Increase the number of teachers of color with career    paths in high needs neighborhoods in Brooklyn, the number of bilingual    teachers of color to serve a diverse student body, and teacher effectiveness.

Northeastern State University

OK

$1,512,832

Provide support for the needs of teachers and teacher    candidates on tribal land in the surrounding area and region, so there is one    common place to find assistance such as scholarships and professional    development.

University of Texas El Paso

TX

$1,586,079

Recruit and train teachers, focusing on Latino teacher    recruitment, in high-need certifications such as bilingual and special    education.

University of Houston Clear Lake

TX

$1,599,669

The project this grant will support is the STEM4ALL    program supporting the recruitment, retention, and support for 30 new    preservice students, who will become educators in STEM.

Sam Houston State University

TX

$1,599,900

The grant will enhance the services of an existing    program between a University Teacher Preparation Program (TPP) and a    consortium of high-needs school districts.

**TOTAL**

** **

**$18,758,194**

 
   -  Tags: Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence ProgramRaise the BarPress Releases
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