The COPPA Project is a graduate level collaborative personnel preparation program for teachers and professionals from related disciplines interested in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The Project is an expansion of a previous initiative (2003-2006) between the Special Education program at UGA and Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS). The new Project expands on that original partnership by including UGA faculty from the Educational Psychology program and three additional public school systems (Forsyth, Cobb, and Clarke counties). This expanded partnership permits graduate students with an interest in ASD from special education, educational psychology and related disciplines to work collaboratively prior to assuming positions in public schools. Each of the LEA Partners has agreed to: a) assist with recruitment; b) offer student field placements; c) be available for guest presentations; d) serve as applied research sites; and e) interview prospective graduates for ASD teaching positions. The COPPA Project is committed to presenting evidence-based strategies in the preparation of specifically trained and highly qualified teachers (special and general education), communication specialists, and school psychologists who wish to better serve children with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. Funds are available to annually support 5 full time graduate students through fellowships and tuition stipends. All funded students sign a Promissory Service Agreement.
The COPPA Project has three primary objectives: To prepare highly qualified public school personnel to: 1) use research-based “best and promising” educational practices when serving children with ASD in inclusive educational settings; 2) provide consultation, in-service training, and disseminate evidence-based information related to serving elementary age children with ASD; and 3) analyze, conduct, and disseminate applied research with children with ASD and/or their families. Students are recruited from education, psychology, and related fields, who have an interest in and experience with children with ASD. Particular attention is given to recruiting individuals from under-represented groups, non-traditional students seeking a career change, and classroom paraprofessionals.
COPPA Funded Students
As designed, graduate students admitted to the program (M.Ed. and Ed.S. degrees) will choose between two programs of study, one which emphasizes teaching children with high functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), and the other focusing on children with “classic” autism who function in the moderate to profound range of intellectual disabilities. Both programs of study lead to the graduate being “highly qualified” in either “Special Education General Curriculum” (HFA/AS) or “Special Education Adapted Curriculum” (classic autism). In addition to specific didactic courses in special education and ASD, students also will enroll in a minimum of two ASD internship courses, a minimum of two research courses, and complete an applied research project with children with ASD or their families.
Non-COPPA Funded Students
To broaden the impact of the COPPA Project, non-COPPA Project funded students from special education, general education, communication sciences and disorders, as well as students from other related fields (psychology, therapeutic recreation, social work etc) are permitted to enroll in one or more of the ASD graduate courses with faculty permission. Non-degree seeking students and transient students are welcome to request permission to take any or all of the COPPA Project funded courses. In addition, an undergraduate/graduate split-level introductory course in ASD (SPED 4010/6010) is offered each fall semester as an elective to students from across the university, regardless of major, as a means of disseminating current best and promising practices related to the education of children with ASD. All COPPA Project coursework can also be incorporated into a Ph.D. degree program of study.
For more information about the COPPA Project and the ASD courses offered, contact Dr. David Gast, Principal Investigator and Co-Director at dlgast@uga.edu.
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Program of Study Forms
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