In order to improve science, mathematics and special education programs, California State Universities Long Beach, Fullerton and Dominguez Hills were awarded a combined total of nearly $5.1 million through the U.S. Department of Education’s Transition to Teaching program.

Sacramento State did not apply for this grant. The university hopes to receive money a little closer to home.

“It’s hard to say why we didn’t apply for this particular grant. There is a lot of grant money available for teacher preparation and a number of different programs,” said Laurel Heffernan, associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Sac State.

The money was granted as a way to recruit and train new teachers, as well as generate more attention and supplies for the three programs at middle schools, high schools and community colleges nationwide.

The three CSUs get to use the grant on local schools of their choice.

“We know from past experience how great these types of grants can be,” said Sue DeRosa, Grants and Contracts director at CSU Long Beach.

Most of the money granted to the CSUs will be used to alleviate shortages at local schools.

The three departments have experienced shortages in both the number of working teachers and student participants.

“There is a shortage of teachers in these programs all over the nation and in California,” CSU Spokesperson Clara Potes-Fellow said. “The CSU system has been looking for a single program or grant that will allow us to better prepare applicants in order to provide more teachers for these programs.”

Most speculate that these hardships are due not only to a shortage of teachers in higher education facilities, but also in a lack of necessary classes in high schools nationwide.

“Math, in particular, is something that is required in the A-G preparatory curriculum for colleges. Unfortunately, many schools in California do not offer all the classes that are required to apply for the CSU system,” Potes-Fellow said.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded a total of $11.8 million dollars, in the form of five-year grants, to 31 different university and state campuses throughout the United States.

CSU Long Beach will be receiving a $1.28 million grant, which will be dolled out in increments of over $250,000 a year for the next five years.

CSU Dominguez Hills is set to receive around $400,000 each year for the next five years.

CSU Fullerton is set to receive a five-year grant of nearly $332,000 a year.

Ashley Evans can be reached at [email protected]