Rutgers University has received a five-year, $3.75 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop future leaders in special education administration. The project, named Preparation of Administrators in Special Education (PASE), is a partnership between Rutgers, the University of South Carolina (USC), and Northern Arizona University (NAU). Training for selected participants is set to begin in January 2026.
The PASE program will recruit experienced special education teachers who have at least three years of full-time experience working with students with disabilities. These individuals will be prepared for leadership roles overseeing special education services in various educational settings, including public school districts, early-intervention programs, charter schools, private and parochial networks, and state agencies.
According to Rutgers officials, there is currently a shortage of qualified special education administrators nationwide. In response to this gap, some states allow individuals without specialized certification to take on administrative roles in special education. The PASE initiative aims to address this by ensuring that future administrators are both experienced educators and well-trained leaders.
Dake Zhang, professor of special education at Rutgers Graduate School of Education and PASE program coordinator, said: “Project PASE integrates the fields of special education and educational administration to develop solutions for supervising and managing complex administrative challenges in the delivery of special education services for students with disabilities, such as planning, supervising, mentoring and the evaluation of evidence-based practices. The program also emphasizes serving high-needs districts and high-poverty schools, as well as collaborating closely with families and communities.”
The majority of grant funds will go toward tuition assistance and stipends covering books, travel expenses, conference participation, summer housing costs for doctoral students enrolled in the program.
Christopher M. Span, dean and Distinguished Professor at Rutgers Graduate School of Education highlighted the significance: “This October when we celebrated National Disability Employment Awareness Month we were reminded of the power of inclusion and the importance of expanding opportunities for all individuals. This grant represents a critical investment in that mission – building a strong leadership pipeline in special education and preparing administrators who are equipped with the knowledge compassion and innovation needed to ensure that all students have access to the high-quality education and support they deserve.”
PASE scholars will complete coursework alongside other Rutgers doctoral candidates while also participating in joint courses with peers from USC and NAU through internships, virtual seminars, research projects focused on improving special education administration practices across different environments.
During their studies participants will attend residential summer sessions at each partner institution’s campus including field experiences such as visiting historic educational sites around New Jersey/New York; attending classes held on Native American reservations near Flagstaff Arizona; or engaging directly with high-need Gullah schools during visits coordinated by USC.
“As the mother of a child with severe autism I am deeply gratified that this grant provides both financial support and a comprehensive curriculum to prepare special education teachers to become future special education administrators – ultimately improving services for students with disabilities,” Zhang said. “As a GSE faculty member I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to my former and current deans’ vision by helping bring additional financial support to our special education training programs.”
Participants are expected to finish their doctoral degrees within four-and-a-half years before committing professionally as full-time administrators dedicated specifically to improving outcomes for students receiving specialized educational services.
The first group under this new initiative will start their work in January 2026 aiming for completion by May 2030.
Alerts Sign-up