OELA Laser Scholarship

The OELA LASER Program at Lasell University provides full-tuition scholarships for working professionals employed by schools seeking a Masters's degree and initial licensure in education. This opportunity will prepare future special education teachers to address the unique needs of students who are learning English and who may also have mild to moderate disabilities.

Fifteen scholars per year will receive full tuition for 36 credit hours to earn their Master's in Education degrees, and full tuition for six credit hours to earn their state Bilingual Special Education certificate.

Upon graduation, you will be empowered to

• Meet the special education needs of school-aged (Pre-K to 8th grade) students with mild/moderate disabilities in literacy and language
• Apply training in special and bilingual education to make an impact in students' lives.
• Learn evidence-based practices, collaboration, and consultation skills to work with diverse students in multiple settings
• Receive targeted training in delivering research-based literacy curriculum in English-only and Dual Language programs

Through comprehensive, intensive study of culturally/linguistically sustaining education in the field of bilingual special education, LASERS will focus on three critical areas:

• Training teachers to help bilingual students improve their vocabulary and oral language comprehension through small group instruction.
• Eliminating barriers to resources and opportunities for bilingual English learners and their families. LASERS Scholars will collaboratively engage to address equity for this population as they complete courses, exchange ideas, design lesson plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and acquire best practices.
• Developing family-community engagement skill sets to improve outcomes

A simultaneous research study will be conducted with LASER Scholars at four elementary schools in Boston, Waltham, and Newton with high percentages of English learners to help track the effectiveness of the program and make modifications as needed.

The OELA Laser Grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition. The National Professional Development Program grants reflect the education priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration to close opportunity and achievement gaps by investing in, recruiting, and supporting the professional development of an educator workforce, including bilingual teachers, that mirrors the growing diversity of the K-12 population

Students only need to fill out the application for the Master's in Special Education & Moderate Disabilities and let your enrollment counselor know you are interested in the scholarship that is being offered and your application will be considered. 

Learn more about the Master's in Education

The team behind this new alliance includes faculty from both Lasell University and UMASS Lowell who are experts in special education, applied behavior analysis, key public schools and nonprofit autism service organizations. UMass Lowell School of Education, assistant professor, Robai Wernuga, whose work focuses on special education and early intervention, and Psychology Associate Professor, Rocio Rosales, program coordinator, Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Studies, are partnering with Professor Claudia Rinaldi, program chair of Education, in leading this endeavor.

Lasell University

Claudia Rinaldi, Ph.D. Professor of Education

Expertise in MTSS, Special Education and the Needs of Bilingual Learners with Disabilities