Alma College announces “Para to Pro” program

JORDAN FOX
COPY EDITOR

2/17/2025

On Jan. 31, Alma College signed with Mid Michigan College to officially launch its Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher program. The initiative was led by Peggy Yates, Director of Master’s in Special Education and Associate Professor of Education at Alma College. 

The program is a four-year, online degree designed for paraeducators working full-time to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education. It is approved by the Michigan Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission.

“Paraeducators already support students with disabilities daily. Our program is designed to honor and build upon that dedication, providing a pathway for paraeducators to become licensed special education teachers,” said Yates. 

The program is 95% online and features a combination of online courses through Mid Michigan College, in-person courses at Alma College and a semester of student teaching. In year one students will complete 33-36 credits online at Mid Michigan College supplemented with a special education career development course through Alma College. 

In years two through four, students will complete 108 credits online through Alma College. One face-to-face class session on the campus of Alma College, per semester, is required. In the winter semester of year four, paraeducators leave employment to student teach for 14 weeks.

The state of Michigan is currently facing a shortage of special education teachers. Out of the approximately 703 school districts in Michigan, only 73 have no vacancies for special education teachers.

According to OPTIMISE (Opening the Pipeline of Talent into Michigan’s Special Education), a Michigan task force created to attract, prepare and retain special education personnel to serve children with disabilities, there are a total of 739 program vacancies or individuals who are not fully certified in urban, suburban and rural schools across the state.  

The addition of this new program at Alma College, which is focused on “removing barriers and embedding essential supports to help paraeducators succeed in earning teacher licensure,” aims to combat this shortage. 

The college also promotes a program-specific scholarship and financial aid opportunities to those interested in getting their special education teacher licensure but unable to afford the cost. 

Paraeducators who complete year one of community college classes with a 2.75 GPA or higher and maintain a “C” or better in all first-year classes will be eligible for the $33,000 Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Scholarship to use towards year two. This scholarship is renewable for years 3-4 upon maintenance of a 2.75 GPA. 

Additionally, paraeducators with family incomes under $36,000 annually can potentially complete the program at no cost through federal and state aid.

Program applicants must be at least 22 years of age, provide a high school transcript or GED, be currently employed as a paraeducator in Michigan, and complete and submit the “Agree to Support” documentation from their school district confirming they will be supported during the program.

The deadline to apply for Cohort 1 of the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Program is March 1, 2025. Those who complete the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher program with a 3.0 GPA can choose to continue their education through an accelerated Master of Arts in Special Education.