Who can participate?

The VDOE has funded this consortium primarily to assist current teachers in early childhood special education (ECSE) with provisional licensure to complete four of the required courses for ECSE endorsement. This group of teachers are the priority recipients of tuition assistance.

If you are currently teaching preschool-aged children with disabilities and do not have the ECSE endorsement, download the consortium application and information documents, fill out the application to the consortium completely and send via email to the university of your choice (see contact information below), and apply to Radford University or Lynchburg College graduate school.

Others who are interested in obtaining ECSE endorsement are invited to participate, but tuition assistance is not guaranteed.

What courses are offered?

Consortium participants include Radford University and Lynchburg College.  Four required courses for Virginia endorsement in ECSE are offered: Medical Aspects, Curriculum and Instruction, Family Centered Programming, and Assessment.

Classes offered in Spring semester: Assessment and Family Centered Planning

Classes offered in Fall semester: Medical Aspects and Curriculum and Instruction

When do spring classes begin?

Consortium classes will begin the week of September 1st. In order to take classes in the Fall, you must let Dr. Hoover or Dr. Buck know which classes you intend to take by July 15th.

Who funds the consortium?

The consortium is funded by the Virginia Department of Education.

What do I need to do to be a part of the consortium?

You will need to apply to Radford University School of Graduate Studies or Lynchburg College School of Graduate Studies. 

For either school, you will apply as a non-degree seeking graduate student or for a MS degree in Special Education with a concentration in ECSE.

Submit an application to the consortium (see button at top of page).  Please fill out the application completely so that we will know how best to serve you.
 

What are the program requirements?

• Admittance to Radford University or Lynchburg College graduate program

• Meet criteria for admission to consortium

• Access to internet

• Transportation to distance education site and to Radford University or Lynchburg College campus (campus closest to you) for occasional scheduled face-to-face class sessions

Where are courses offered?

Classes are received at the following sites: Radford University and Lynchburg College campuses, and at the following centers: Roanoke Higher Education Center, Southwestern Higher Education Center, and possibly additional sites in central and southwestern Virginia, as demonstrated by student need.

* For those teachers who are more than 1½ hours away from the nearest distance site, the Consortium can still help you take our classes. Before contacting us, however, please go to this website and read the technology requirements for taking the class at a location other than one of our distance sites.

Need more information?

If you are interested in the consortium, but have questions or need more information, please contact: