- SWWC Service Cooperative
- SpEd Teacher Pipeline Grant Program
Southwest Minnesota SpEd Teacher Pipeline Grant Program
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Are you interested in becoming a special education teacher? Apply for the SW Minnesota Special Education Teacher Pipeline grant program which will provide tuition and programmatic support to become a licensed special education teacher. The Special Education Teacher Pipeline grant is designed to increase fully licensed Tier III and IV special education teachers in our region.To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
- A licensed teacher, paraprofessional or non-licensed staff currently employed with a joint applicant (school district partner)
- Demonstrate a willingness to be a special education teacher after completing the program
- Tier 3 and Tier 4 licensed teachers MUST be working in the area of special education in some capacity
As of April 15, 2025, enrollment in the SW Minnesota Special Education Teacher Pipeline is FULL.The next review of applications into the program for our FALL 2025 COHORT will be on July 15, 2025.Priority acceptance into the program for the 2025-26 school year will be given to Tier I and Tier II teachers working in special education.
What you will receive if accepted into this program:- Tuition assistance, book assistance and application fee assistance paid directly to our Teacher Preparation Partners (TTPs).
- Other programmatic support to promote successful completion of a special education licensure program.
- Connection with a Program Success Coach to support mentoring, remove barriers, solve problems and monitor progress.
Timeline - At this time, the Special Education Teacher Pipeline grant program is FULL and we are not accepting new applications until July 15.
As space in the program allows, applications for acceptance into the program will be reviewed and approved periodically on:- Fall 2025 Start Date - Cohort F25 - Application review deadline is July 15; approval will be determined by July 21.
- Spring 2026 Start Date - Cohort Sp26 - Application review deadline is October 15; approval will be determined by October 20.
- Summer 2026 Start Date - Cohort Su26 - Application review deadline is February 16; approval will be determined by February 23.
- Fall 2026 Start Date - Cohort F26 - Application review deadline is June 15; approval will be determined by June 22.
Program Contact
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Liz Deen
Grant Administrator
liz.deen@swwc.org
507-537-2278Dawn Christensen
Administrative Assistant
dawn.christensen@swwc.org
507-537-2278
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The Minnesota Department of Education provided funding for this program under Minnesota Statute 122A.77 Special Education Teacher Pipeline Program to develop a pipeline of trained, licensed Tier 3 or Tier 4 SpEd teachers. SWWC has been awarded $3,000,000 to support teacher licensure in our region until January 2029 or until funding runs out.