65 New Special Education Teachers Prepare for Certification through School District of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Partnership with Holy Family University
“I would not be where I am today without it.” – Ashley Stitt
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The School District of Philadelphia (SDP), in collaboration with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), is proud to share that 65 employees are becoming Special Education Teachers through a strategic partnership with Holy Family University.
“We are grateful for the partnership with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and the work of Holy Family University to tailor its curriculum to the needs and context of the School District of Philadelphia so that our students who need it most are served by highly qualified, well supported, and stable educators,” says Michael Farrell, Ed.D. Chief Academic Officer for the School District of Philadelphia.
Through the new Teacher Certification Assistance Program (TCAP) and the Pathways to Teaching Program that started with Holy Family in Summer 2024, the District is investing up to $600,000 for the 2026-2027 school year to address the critical need for qualified Special Education Teachers.
Eligible employees looking to transform their career paths receive fully funded tuition and books, take courses on an accelerated timeline, and will transition into Special Education teacher roles after completing their coursework. Forty-three experienced and certified teachers and 20 school-based staff members are actively engaged in the Holy Family coursework and will complete classroom observations and student teaching in District schools.
“We are proud to be partnering with SDP and PFT to meet this critical need. Since our founding, Holy Family has been committed to developing education professionals to teach the next generation of students. This partnership leverages our strengths and will have an immediate impact on the city,” says Dr. Anne Prisco, President of Holy Family University.
Ashley Stitt, one the first Holy Family graduates, participated in the District’s new teacher orientation as she prepared to be Special Education Teacher at Louis H. Farrell School this August. “The School District of Philadelphia’s Pathway Program has been truly life-changing for me. Through this incredible opportunity, I was able to complete my education and earn my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education. Becoming a teacher has been my dream since I was a child, and the Pathway Program made that dream a reality. My time at Holy Family University allowed me to learn from outstanding professors and build meaningful, lasting relationships with my classmates. As I prepare to begin my career as a special education teacher this fall, I am filled with gratitude for the support, encouragement, and opportunities the Pathway Program provided. I would not be where I am today without it.”
“As a longtime special education teacher, I know that serving students who require additional support to thrive is rewarding, important work. There should be no financial barriers to joining this skilled workforce during an acute special education teacher shortage,” Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Arthur G. Steinberg said. “Our union is one of the few in the nation to collaboratively oversee teacher training and certification programs with our school district, and to have memorialized such programs in our collective bargaining agreement. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers is proud to create innovative models for expanding the educator pipeline for districts facing similar staffing challenges to follow.”
For more information, visit the District’s Aspiring Teachers webpage.