Specifications include, but are not limited to: Purpose of the State Agency for Higher Education (SAHE) Highly Qualified Teachers and Improving Teacher Quality State Grant Program. The intent of the SAHE grants under NCLB is to support activities/projects that: • Increase the number of highly qualified teachers in the ten core academic areas, particularly in the state’s highest-need schools. Provide long-term, sustained, high-quality professional development that improves the knowledge and practice of teachers, principals and paraprofessionals. Develop and implement initiatives to promote retention of highly qualified teachers, principals and paraprofessionals, particularly within schools with a high percentage of under-achieving students, and initiatives, including activities aligned to rigorous standards that increase rigor to improve the quality of teachers
