Mercy University and BloomBoard have joined forces to address the teacher shortage in New York by offering an innovative new partnership. This collaboration aims to support New York school districts in providing an on-the-job delivery pathway for Mercy’s Bachelor of Science in Teaching Students with Disabilities, B-12 program. The goal is to bring more highly qualified special education teachers into New York classrooms and remove traditional barriers to earning a teaching degree.
According to a 2022 NCES study, 40% of U.S. public schools faced challenges in filling open special education teaching positions, highlighting the high demand for special education teachers. In 2023, NYC Public Schools reported a critical shortage of special education teachers. This new bachelor’s degree program offered by Mercy University seeks to address this shortage by creating a sustainable pool of highly-qualified educators for these hard-to-fill positions.
Candidates with an associate degree currently working in a school can enroll in the program as part of a cohort sponsored by a school district. Upon earning the bachelor’s degree and passing all required certification assessments, candidates are eligible for New York’s Students with Disabilities (All Grades) certificate.
BloomBoard will assist New York school districts and BOCES in implementing Mercy University’s program within their school systems, helping identify funding sources and building program support for effective delivery and student success. The Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES (E2CCB) is the first BOCES to bring this innovative program to its school districts.
Laurie LiPuma, Executive Director of Human Resources at E2CCB, emphasized the program’s potential to address the unmet need for teachers in New York. By enabling teaching assistants, aides, and other qualified support staff to become special education teachers while working alongside students, the program offers a valuable opportunity for career advancement.
School districts interested in participating in this program can reach out to Michelle Licata of BloomBoard for more information. This partnership between Mercy University and BloomBoard represents a significant step towards addressing the teacher shortage in New York and providing accessible pathways for aspiring educators to enter the field.
