Grant Provides Funding for Students Pursuing Degrees in Applied Behavior Analysis, Special Education
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 16, 2022) —The University of Kentucky College of Education has received $1.25 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education to provide tuition support to students pursuing interdisciplinary training in the Applied Behavior Analysis and Special Education — Moderate and Severe Disabilities master’s degree programs.
“This grant will increase the number of behavior analysts and special education teacher leaders serving students with disabilities in the state of Kentucky. Scholars will work together during shared fieldwork experiences with students in kindergarten through 12th grade with moderate to severe disabilities who display significant deficits in academics, adaptive behavior, and social communication,” said Justin Lane, Ph.D., the personnel preparation grant’s principal investigator and an associate professor in the Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education.
The program, known as Project UNITY: Unifying and Inspiring All Teachers to Yield Meaningful Growth in Children with Disabilities, will provide students a $13,000 stipend per semester to be used on in-state tuition and assist with living expenses.
The deadline to apply for the Special Education – Moderate and Severe Disabilities master’s program is Tuesday, May 31. Once admitted to the master’s program, students will apply for Project UNITY funding and funding decisions will be made in June. The program offers the opportunity for either full-time or part-time study, as well as on-campus and online course options. (The Applied Behavior Analysis program is no longer accepting applications for UNITY for fall 2022).
In addition, the grant includes an opportunity to fund a full-time doctoral student who will assist with grant-related activities, such as supervising students in schools and students pursuing certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). The opportunity includes tuition support and a stipend. A successful applicant must be a BCBA in good standing.
In addition to Lane, faculty on the grant include Amy Spriggs, Ph.D., and Sally Shepley, Ph.D.
This project is supported by the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education as part of an award H325K210041 totaling $1,250,000 with 100% funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
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