The Monarch Center was established in response to two related factors: 1) overrepresentation of culturally and linguistically diverse students in special education classrooms and 2) tremendous personnel shortages in the fields of special education and related services in the United States.

The mission of the Monarch Center is to support faculty at Minority Institutions of Higher Education (MIHEs) in their pursuit of educational excellence for their programs and students as well as enhancing access to funding.  The overarching goal of the Monarch Center is to affect positive change in the lives of children with disabilities, particularly those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds.

The Monarch Center provides grantsmanship and program development services to MIHE faculty in Special Education and Related Service programs.  Improved grantsmanship skills and program development services are intended to enable MIHEs to compete successfully for federal personnel preparation funds and to develop/enhance their special education and related services personnel preparation degree programs. Technical Assistance (TA) is offered in the form of Grant Proposal Development and Program Improvement/Development.

The Monarch Center promotes appreciation of the talents and concerns of persons with disabilities and support their full participation in the activities of the Center. We strive to create a workplace where people are valued as individuals and team members and where respect, understanding and fairness inform our conversations, activities and events.

Furthermore, we value the viewpoints and contributions of individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We integrate various viewpoints at all levels of Monarch Center work. A rich diversity of perspectives is gained from the Monarch Center Advisory Board members, who identify with and represent the interests of African-Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Alaska Natives and American Indians, Hispanic/Latinos, individuals with special needs, parents of individuals with special needs, and English Language Learners. The contexts of rural and urban education are also represented across Advisory Board membership.

Finally, the Monarch Center staff and Senior Advisors reflect the diverse cultural, linguistic, and disability heritage of Chicago and the nation.