The University of Central Arkansas was one of eight Arkansas universities that will participate in a Forward Arkansas program designed to help transform K-12 teacher recruitment, training and retention in the state.
The University of Central Arkansas will receive a $100,000 grant as part of the nonprofit’s Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Design Collaborative.
“The Forward Arkansas grant process has given Educator Preparation Programs in Arkansas the opportunity to dream beyond their limited resources to reimage teacher preparation. UCA will use the process as a catalyst to invigorate and stimulate innovation,” said Victoria Groves-Scott, dean of the UCA College of Education. “We are excited to work with our K-12 partners as we participate in the Forward design collaborative.”
The other institutions are Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, Harding University, Southern Arkansas University, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Forward selected the universities through a competitive statewide process. It sought a cohort of institutions of varying sizes and locations. It also looked for universities with proven commitments to increasing teacher diversity and track records of placing educators in high-need locations.
“We want to support and champion Arkansas institutions that have the bold ideas and committed leadership needed to transform our state’s teacher pipeline,” said Ben Kutylo, Forward Arkansas’s executive director. “Through the collaborative, we aim to help Arkansas recruit more qualified teachers, better prepare educators for the challenges of the classroom and improve overall teacher retention rates.”
Forward’s Collaborative will also include the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). This spring, UAPB began its EPP transformation efforts with a grant from Alice Walton, through the Walton Family Foundation. As a participant in Forward’s cohort, UAPB will join the broader state-wide initiative and lend insights it has developed to other participating universities.
Forward initially intended to partner with six universities but, due to high interest, it expanded its EPP Design Collaborative to include eight institutions. The universities will receive design and technical assistance from Forward and its partners to develop a “transformation plan” that captures their vision for change and aligns with the Arkansas Department of Education’s future direction for educator preparation. In the summer of 2022, a select number of institutions will have the opportunity to pursue additional funding for implementation.
About Forward Arkansas
Forward Arkansas was established in 2014 with grants from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and Walton Family Foundation with the goal of improving outcomes for all students. It works with districts, schools, educational partners and state leaders to transform learning, build educator capacity and provide equitable resources to ensure every student has access to and is prepared for opportunities in life and career. To learn more, visit forwardarkansas.org.
