INFORMATIONAL

  The Department of Education has budgeted a portion of
  Virginia's Section 619 Preschool Grant monies to provide
  tuition assistance of up to $350.00 per teacher for one
  course per semester or quarter (three semester hours or four
  quarter hours).  These funds are available to Early
  Childhood Special Education teachers and certain related
  services personnel under contract with a local division for
  the 1996-1997 school year.
  
  Eligible teachers are those enrolled in a graduate level
  course directly related to the area in which they are
  providing instruction.  Related services personnel who are
  eligible for stipends include speech and language therapists
  for whom  preschoolers with disabilities make up at least
  50% of their caseload and who are enrolled in a graduate
  level course directly related to the area in which they are
  providing instruction or in early childhood special
  education. 
  
  Courses may be taken for initial endorsement, for renewal of
  a teaching certificate, or for professional development. 
  Professional development could include coursework that would
  enhance a preschool teacher's ability to present material
  that supports the State's Standards of Learning including
  emerging literacy, phonics, and computer literacy.  It is
  the responsibility of the teacher to ensure that any courses
  taken for endorsement satisfy State requirements (Licensure
  Regulations for School Personnel, 1993).  Coursework also
  should be reviewed by the local supervisor of special
  education or the division superintendent.  Teachers may
  combine tuition assistance from Section 619 Preschool Grant
  funds with other state and/or local reimbursement sources as
  long as the amount received by the teacher does not exceed
  the cost of the course.
  
  The funding period for this activity ends August 29, 1997 
  Approximately one-third of the total funds will be reserved 
  
    Supts. Memo. No. 159
  September 27, 1996  
  Page 2              
                                                             
  for applicants during each term.  Any funds not applied for
  during a particular term will be added to those reserved for
  the following term.  If more applications are received than
  funds available for a particular term, tuition assistance will
  be awarded on a first come, first serve basis, according to
  the postmark stamped on the application and with priority
  being given to unendorsed preschool special education
  teachers.
  
  Applications are to be submitted to the Department of
  Education immediately after the teacher has enrolled in the
  course.
  
  If you have any questions regarding eligibility for the
  stipend, please contact Mrs. Linda S. Bradford, Specialist,
  Office of Special Education and Student Services, at (804)
  225-2675.  The attached application form should be submitted
  to:  Ms. Ossie M. Lawrence, Program Support Technician, Office
  of Special Education and Student Services, Virginia Department
  of Education, P. O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120.  Please
  contact Ms. Lawrence at (804) 225-2932 for questions about
  application status or reimbursement.
  
  
  
  RTL/oml
  
  Enclosure:   This memo and its enclosure will be sent to
               the superintendent's office   Attachment to Supts. Memo. No. 159
  September 27, 1996
  
  
            APPLICATION FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR
          EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS
  
  This application is to be submitted to the Department of
  Education immediately following enrollment in a course. 
  Written notification of the status of the application will be
  sent to the teacher and the local school division following
  approval.  Applicant should follow up with their local school
  division if they do not receive notification from the
  Department within 30 days of submission.
  
  Upon successful completion of the course, the superintendent
  or superintendent's designee should submit a copy of the
  teacher's grade report indicating a grade of "B" or better on
  a graduate level course and documentation of payment for the
  course.
  
  The reimbursement check will be sent directly to the teacher. 
  A copy of the correspondence will be forwarded to the school
  division.
  
  NAME                                                         
  S.S.#                                                       
  
  HOME ADDRESS                                                 
                                                               
                                                               
                                          ZIP CODE             
  
  TELEPHONE NUMBER (        )                             WORK
  (        )                                              HOME
  
  ARE YOU A FULL TIME EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER? 
             YES            NO
  
  IF NO, PLEASE EXPLAIN:                                       
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
  
  OR ARE YOU A SPEECH/LANGUAGE THERAPIST WHO'S CASELOAD IS
  COMPOSED OF AT LEAST 50%
  
  PRESCHOOLERS WITH DISABILITIES?      YES.      NO. IF NO,
  PLEASE EXPLAIN:                                             
                                                               
                                                               
  IS THIS COURSE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION
  ENDORSEMENT?         YES         NO
  
  COURSE TITLE                                                 
                                                               
  
  COURSE NUMBER                     NUMBER OF CREDITS          
  
  1996-97 TERM (CHECK ONE):      FALL           WINTER       
  SPRING             SUMMER         
  
  NAME OF COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY                                   
                                                               
  
  
  
  
                              (OVER)                            PAGE 2
  
  
  
                   SCHOOL DIVISION APPROVAL
  
  
  Division Superintendent must certify that at least 50% of the
  caseload of related service personnel is composed of
  preschoolers with disabilities.             


 
                                                         
       Signature of Division Superintendent
  
  
                                                                        
       Date            School Division
  
  
  In order for a teacher or related service person to be
  eligible to receive this stipend, the local school division
  must submit the completed application to the Department of
  Education immediately after the person's enrollment in the
  course.
  
  
  
               DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROVAL
  
  
                                                          
                  D.O.E. Specialist in ECSE
  
                  
  Date
  
  Return to:  Ms. Ossie M. Lawrence, Program Support
  Technician, Office of Special Education, Department of
  Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond VA 23218-2120