A $2 million program was announced Thursday to strengthen teachers in nine Chattanooga inner-city schools and allow them to earn master's degrees.

As part of their "commitment to improving student achievement and increasing teacher retention in the nine Benwood elementary schools," the Osborne Foundation has awarded $1.5 million to the Public Education Foundation (PEF) to implement a master’s degree program for urban educators, officials said.

The PEF, which will raise an additional $500,000 for the project, will coordinate the Osborne Fellows Project.

The announcement was made by PEF President Dan Challener at a luncheon attended by educators at the Clarion Hote.

UTC, in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, has been selected to host the teacher improvement program.

Designed to allow elementary teachers from the nine schools involved in PEF’s Benwood Initiative to earn a master’s degree at no individual costs, the Osborne Fellows Project "will support and help to improve student achievement and increase teacher effectiveness through continuing education." Mr. Challener said.

After a comprehensive selection process of southeastern universities, PEF and the Osborne Foundation’s Selection Team, consisting of Deans from three major universities and the President of the BellSouth Foundation, felt that UTC and Johns Hopkins, in Baltimore, Maryland, "would be the best match to accomplish the goals of the Osborne Fellows Project," it was stated.

“UTC has partnered with the nationally recognized Johns Hopkins University to interactively design an innovative program that combines UTC’s strategic role in improving teacher quality and preparation with Johns Hopkins’ cutting-edge applied educational research capabilities,” said Mr. Challener.

“We believe that teachers will be getting the best of both worlds with this strong combination.”

A total of $300,000 will be available yearly to UTC to pay for project administration, program coordination, tuition, enrollment, and book fees for the 20 teachers per year that will be receiving master’s degrees.

“It is anticipated that as many as 100 master’s degrees will be earned by Benwood elementary school teachers over the next five years,” said Mr. Challener. “If this project is to be deemed successful, the goal is to endow the Osborne Fellows Project, and allow it to continue annually until it is no longer needed.”

PEF’s Osborne Fellows Project will consist of 36 credit hours of coursework over a two-year period. The goals of the program are to educate teachers on how to enhance student learning within urban schools and communities, and to ensure that all students are reading at or above grade level. These over-arching goals are interwoven throughout a cohort-based program, crosscutting issues such as literacy instruction, educational technology, classroom management, and instructional strategies for urban learners. Specifically designed for the urban educator, teachers will attend classes such as Socio-Cultural Context of Urban Education; Classroom Management & Instructional Techniques; Assessment, Action Research, & Evaluation; and Problem-Based Field Practicum.

“Traditionally, teacher preparation programs have prepared teachers as generalists to work in classrooms where the majority of students are suburban, middle class, white, and performing on par with peers,” said Dr. Bill Stacy, Chancellor of UTC.

“While Benwood teacher’s baccalaureate education provides a foundation for teaching, these educators need and deserve the opportunity to participate in Master’s level preparation focused specifically on the unique elements of education in urban settings.”

Dr. Shelley Ingram, Director of the Graduate Division of Education at Johns Hopkins, said, “Faculty at the Johns Hopkins University Graduate Division of Education are enthusiastic about joining forces with our colleagues at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the Public Education Foundation to support Hamilton County elementary teachers in this innovative Masters degree program.

“We believe that the Osborne Fellows Project will become a national model of university-school district collaboration.”

The nine high-priority elementary schools participating in PEF’s Benwood Initiative are Calvin Donaldson, Clifton Hills, East Lake, East Side, Hardy, Hillcrest, Howard, Orchard Knob and Woodmore.

The Public Education Foundation was established in 1988 at the invitation of the Chattanooga and Hamilton County school superintendents. The Foundation sponsors a number of annual and year-round programs that provide professional development and training for teachers and future leaders.

It also helps to strengthen the partnerships between families and schools.

Since its establishment, the Public Education Foundation has provided more than $14 million in grant and program support to Hamilton County Public Schools.