In October 2009, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Wichita State University a $1 million grant, renewable for five years to total more than $6 million, for a program that advances teacher preparation for urban education.

A year later, WSU's College of Education is already making progress with the grant, which is also a partnership with Wichita Public Schools, community organizations and area community colleges. The goal is to transform the WSU pre-baccalaureate program and launch the first known early childhood residency program in the nation.

"In the first year, we have had a strong start," Iorio said.

The baccalaureate program has so far recruited 15 Wichita elementary and five secondary schools to become professional development partner schools, and 180 WSU teacher candidates have received field placement during the first eight months of the program.

More progress is on the horizon, Iorio said. Starting in January 2011, Introduction to Education will start. It’s a college course offered in USD 259 in a learning community partnership with Wichita State faculty.

Iorio said all of this success fits in well with the national priority of recruiting students and young adults into the teaching profession.

“There are national problems and here in Wichita as well, but we're doing our best to address those,” Iorio said.