Areas of Focus

The Center’s programs are tailored to meet the demands of high-poverty, high-need schools throughout the District. The Center will focus on three critical areas that the school district has identified as key areas of current need:

1. Linguistic and Cultural Diversity: The Urban Teacher Academy’s programs prepare teachers to be successful and effective in the diverse, high-needs classrooms found in DC schools. Coursework and fieldwork are designed to ensure that aspiring teachers graduate ready to meet the needs of all students.

2. Early Childhood Education and School Readiness: A growing body of research suggests that the key to closing the achievement gap is to offer high-quality early childhood education programs. While many alternative certification programs target middle school and secondary content areas, District schools continue to face serious needs in early childhood education

3. Instructional Support and Interventions for Children with Special Needs: Aspiring teachers often do not receive adequate training in special education, leaving them unable to meet the variety of learning needs in their classrooms. The Center incorporates special education training into all its teacher preparation programs.