Finance committee refers expansion of state-run SPED certification program to full board

The Bridgeport Board of Education Finance Committee voted Thursday to refer to the full board a request to expand district participation in the Advanced Alternative Route to Certification, a state-run program that cross-certifies current teachers into special education.

Dr. Avery brought the item and described the district's past participation and interest in broadening it. "It's an upfront cost of about a hundred thousand dollars if we added an additional 10 participants to the program," Dr. Avery said, referring to the estimated district share to add 10 more candidates. He recommended the committee "embrace that concept again" and send it to the full board for possible action.

Michael Brosnan, who presented details to the committee, said the program is administered through the State Department of Education and run locally by the Capital Region Educational Cooperative (CREC). "This has proven to be a really successful program," Brosnan said, explaining CREC charges roughly $9,950 per candidate and that the district typically cross-endorses experienced general-education teachers into special education by paying the tuition and offering salary-step incentives.

Bros…