Temple University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) announces the launch of the Philadelphia Residency Experiences for Professional Advancement and Responsive Educators, Project PREPARE.
Project PREPARE (Philadelphia Residency Experiences for Professional Advancement and Responsive Educators) is an innovative teacher preparation initiative designed to address the urgent need for highly qualified special education teachers. The program, which will enhance the Temple Teacher Residency (TTR) program and provide funding support to special education TTR students, accelerates pathways to certification for aspiring special education educators.
Participants will receive $5,000 in financial assistance through a grant awarded to Temple through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Additional funding opportunities may also become available.
The rigorous 15-month accelerated residency program combines graduate coursework, intensive classroom-based training and sustained mentoring to prepare teachers to serve students with disabilities across Philadelphia’s public schools. The program is expected to enroll at least 15 residents in its first cohort beginning in summer 2026, expanding the pipeline of well-prepared special education teachers entering the district.
Joseph Boyle, director of the Special Education Research to Practice Center at Temple's CEHD, says "Project PREPARE strengthens our long-standing partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and builds on the success of our residency program to prepare teachers who are ready to meet the complex needs of students with disabilities."
A Comprehensive Residency Model
Project PREPARE builds on Temple’s successful residency model, which has prepared dozens of special educators over the past several years. Through Project PREPARE, residents will participate in a cohort-based program that integrates coursework with authentic field experiences. The curriculum emphasizes key areas of special education practice, including:
- Effective classroom management and positive behavior supports
- Structured literacy instruction for students with disabilities
- Development and implementation of Individualized Education Programs for students with disabilities.
Courses are delivered through a combination of hybrid, online and in-person instruction, alongside intensive classroom placements within Philadelphia schools.
Expanded Field Experiences and Mentoring
A hallmark of Project PREPARE is its emphasis on practice-based teacher preparation. Each resident will be paired with an experienced special education teacher who serves as a mentor throughout the residency year. Mentors provide daily coaching, feedback and support while helping residents gradually assume instructional responsibility in the classroom.
In addition to mentor guidance, residents receive ongoing support from instructional coaches and university faculty who conduct classroom observations and facilitate individualized and data-informed practice throughout the program.
Investment in Teacher Development
Project PREPARE also introduces enhanced coaching systems and professional development supports, including the integration of COACHED—an evidence-based observation and feedback platform developed to strengthen implementation of effective instructional practices for students with disabilities developed by the University of Virginia.
To help reduce financial barriers for aspiring teachers, residents will be eligible for a $5,000 tuition stipend to support their participation in the program. Additionally, scholarships may be available for eligible participants with support from the College of Education and Human Development’s Special Education Research to Practice Center.
Sustained Support for New Teachers
The program extends beyond financial support and teacher certification by providing structured induction and professional learning for graduates during their first two years of teaching. Temple University and the School District of Philadelphia will offer summer workshops, mentoring and coaching designed to help new teachers build strong classroom environments, develop effective routines and refine instructional practices.