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Grants for Educators
Porto Charities empowers educators through two initiatives: the Special Education Scholarship Program and the Tuition-free Introduction to Special Education at George Mason University.
Learn more about these initiatives below. Both help educators grow their skill set to better serve students with intellectual disabilities.
Porto Charities believes
that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve to reach their full
potential by receiving an enriching Catholic education.
These initiatives are a meaningful step toward achieving our vision.
Special Education Scholarship Program
Program Highlights:
Criteria
The scholarship program offers financial assistance to educators pursuing advanced training in special education by obtaining a Special Education Certificate or a master’s degree in special education.
Methodology
Educators must submit a completed application to Porto Charities and be approved for the program before they start their coursework. Educators who enroll in a certificate program must complete their coursework within 18 months. Educators who enroll in a master’s program must complete their coursework within 36 months.
Grant Awards
Subject to available funding, tuition reimbursement for the Special Education Certificate Program will be a maximum of 50% of tuition paid by the participant not to exceed $ 5,000. Tuition reimbursement for a master’s program will be a maximum of 50% of the tuition paid by the participant not to exceed $ 10,000.
Reimbursement Process
Scholarships will be awarded to educators after they provide Porto Charities with confirmation (proof of payment and a copy of their official transcript) that they have satisfactorily completed all coursework. Candidates must graduate with a 3.0 GPA.
Online Application and Deadlines
Eligibility
Applicants must be employed by and in good standing with an accredited Catholic elementary or high school recognized by the Diocese of Arlington for at least two years before applying for this scholarship.
Deadlines
Applications should be submitted before beginning coursework. As we know, educators may begin a program at various points throughout the year; therefore, Porto Charities will be accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Agreement
While participation in this program does not guarantee a job/teaching position, awardees who accept scholarship funds to complete a certification program must agree to continue working for the Diocese of Arlington for a minimum of 12 months after completing their coursework, or 24 months after completing their master's degree.
There are several universities in the metro area that offer graduate programs in special education. Below are a few options to obtain your Special Education Certificate or master's degree.
George Mason University
A variety of options are available at George Mason for students to learn more about working with individuals with disabilities, including undergraduate and graduate programs, teacher licensure and non-licensure options, and online and on-campus options.
Marymount University
Marymount University’s master’s in Special Education degree is designed for those dedicated to teaching children and teens with diverse learning abilities in a K–12 classroom setting. Marymount also offers a Special Education Graduate Certificate. For more information about this Certificate, please contact Marymount directly.
Notre Dame PIE Program
The Program for Inclusive Education (PIE) is an 18-credit hour program for educators employed in Catholic schools/(arch)dioceses. The program offers a licensure track for eligible teachers who wish to pursue additional licensure in Mild Intervention upon program completion.
Tuition-Free Intro to Special Education at GMU
​In collaboration with George Mason University, Porto Charities will financially underwrite a graduate program titled “Introduction to Special Education.” Class is offered annually and is available to 25 diocesan employees. This three credit graduate level course provides an overview of the foundations, laws, and types of disabilities recognized by the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) and will be delivered in a fully asynchronous online format. Participants will receive three graduate level credits. Educators, administrators, catechists, clergy and religious working/volunteering in the Diocese of Arlington are eligible to apply.
If you would like to be one of the 25 educators to participate in this course, please sign up below to receive more information regarding enrollment. The next course will be offered in the Fall of 2026.
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Below you may also download the course syllabus. Please note that while the content in this course syllabus is the same that will be covered under the course sponsored by Porto Charities, the timeline will be different.
Questions?
For questions please contact our Education Committee at education@portocharities.org