The PULSE Pipeline Project:

Preparing Urban Leaders in Special Education

The PULSE Pipeline Project is a U.S. Department of Education Grant funded out of the Office of Special Education Programs since fall 2004. To date, it has been successful in recruiting and supporting 24 beginning special education intern teachers at Claremont Graduate University (CGU).  Forty percent of these participants are from under-represented population groups and four (17%) are individuals with disabilities. 

Participants receive tuition waivers and stipends from the project and 1:1 advisement on coursework planning. Project objectives include preparation in competencies in social justice and accountability, teacher collaboration, and working with culturally and linguistically diverse students with disabilities.   The Level II Education Specialist Coursework can be applied to a PhD emphasis in special education at CGU, ¡§creating an institutionalized pipeline¡¨ for the special education doctorate¡Xa targeted objective of this project.

Project intern teachers are given field and academic support from experienced special education faculty advisors who visit their classrooms weekly and also participate in the delivery of academic course instruction as part of the PULSE unique model. The faculty advisors receive training in providing support and several opportunities to develop their skills in field supervision and course delivery.

Project Objectives:

1. Recruit and support up to 25 beginning special education teachers annually, focusing on candidates from under-represented populations.
2. Provide competencies in accountability and social justice.
3. Integrate collaboration between education specialists and general educators.
4. Provide maximum support for beginning teachers
5. Create an institutionalized pipeline for the special education emphasis for a doctorate at Claremont Graduate University

Contact Information

Dr. Susan M. Robb, Professor and Project Director

Sue.robb@cgu.edu

School of Educational Studies

Claremont Graduate University

925 N. Dartmouth

Claremont, CA 91711

(909) 607-1757