Students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have better outcomes when they have teachers and counselors who share their backgrounds and experiences.

Through Project IMPRESS (Interdisciplinary Master’s Preparation of Urban and Rural Educators in Special Education and School Counseling) the Syracuse University School of Education aims to recruit, prepare, and retain fully certified, diverse special education teachers and school counselors to work with students with disabilities with high-intensity needs in high-needs schools.

This cohort-based program—funded by the US Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs—will prepare highly effective, equity conscious professionals with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to serve diverse student populations. Field experiences and practicums will be in urban and rural districts like the Syracuse City School District and Lafayette Central School District (including the Onondaga Nation School).

Program Components

• Enrollment in one of three School of Education master’s degrees, starting in May:
  • Inclusive Special Education, Grades 1-6 (15-month program)
  • Inclusive Special Education, Grades 7-12 Generalist (15 month program)
  • School Counseling, Grades PreK-12 (24 month program)
• Significant financial support including up to 100% tuition scholarships for Inclusive Special Education, and 50% scholarships plus a $15,000 tuition stipend for School Counseling.
• Classroom and experiential training in inclusive, culturally sustaining, evidence-based, and intensive instruction and interventions associated with improved learning, developmental, social, and transition outcomes for students with disabilities with high-intensity needs.
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration through shared projects, coursework, and internships.
• Partnerships with diverse rural and urban school districts provide direct opportunities for working with students with disabilities and faculty and staff in high-needs schools.

Questions? Contact Breana Nieves Vergara, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions, at bknieves@syr.edu or 315.443.2505.

Project IMPRESS Details

• Scholars must agree to a three-year minimum service obligation through providing direct or indirect services (often through a teaching or agency position) to students with disabilities upon completion of the program.
• Both Inclusive Special Education master’s degrees meet the academic requirements for New York State teacher certification; see each degree pages for details. Coursework also leads to a New York State Annotation for Teaching Students with Severe or Multiple Disabilities.
• The School Counseling master’s degree meets academic requirements for initial and professional New York State school counselor certification; see degree page for details.

Project IMPRESS is made possible through a US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs grant.