INFORMATIONAL

  The Department of Education has budgeted a portion of
  Virginia's Section 619 Preschool Grant funds to provide
  tuition assistance of up to $400 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 speech 
  and language pathologists under contract with a local 
  division for the 1998-1999 school year.

  Eligible teachers are those enrolled in a graduate-level
  course directly related to the area in which they are
  providing instruction.  Speech and language pathologists
  eligible for tuition assistance are those for whom
  preschoolers with disabilities make up at least 50 percent of
  their caseloads 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 license, or for professional development. 
  Professional development could include course work to enhance
  a preschool teacher's ability to present material that
  supports the Virginia's Standards of Learning, including
  literacy, phonics, and computer literacy.  The teacher is
  responsible for ensuring that any courses taken for
  endorsement in special education early childhood satisfy state
  requirements (Licensure Regulations for School Personnel and 
  Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel, July 1,
  1998).  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 31, 1999. 
  Approximately one-third of the total funds will be reserved
  for applicants during each term.  Funds not applied for 
  during a particular term will be added to money reserved for
  the following term.  If the number of applications exceeds
  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; 
  priority will be 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 questions regarding eligibility for the tuition
  assistance, please contact Mrs. Linda S. Bradford, Office of
  Special Education and Student Services at (804) 225-2675.
  The attached application form should be submitted to 
  Ms. Ossie M. Lawrence, 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 information about
  application status or reimbursement.

  PDS/lsb

  

             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.  Applicants should follow up with 
  their local school division if they do not receive
  notification of approval 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     ________

  PHONE NUMBER (    )______________  WORK (    ) _____________  HOME
  
  WHAT TEACHING ENDORS0EMENTS DO YOU CURRENTLY HOLD? ________ 

  __________________________________________________________

  ARE YOU A FULL TIME EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER?

      _____  YES   _____   NO   IF NO, PLEASE EXPLAIN:       



  OR ARE YOU A SPEECH/LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST WHOSE 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    IF YES, WHAT OTHER COURSES DO YOU
  NEED:



  TITLE OF COURSE TO BE TAKEN:                                



  COURSE NUMBER                NUMBER OF CREDITS               

  1998-99 TERM (CHECK 6 ONE): FALL ____ WINTER _____     

                              SPRING____ SUMMER _____     

  NAME OF COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY                                  

                    SCHOOL DIVISION APPROVAL

  Division Superintendent must certify the employment of the
  applicant and that at least 50% of the caseload of a related
  service personnel applicant 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 tuition assistance, the local
  school division must submit the completed application to
  the Department of Education immediately after the person's
  enrollment in the course.

  Return to:  Ms. Ossie M. Lawrence, Program Support 
  Technician, Office of Special Education, Department of
  Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond VA 23218-2120

                DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROVAL


                   D.O.E. Specialist in ECSE

       Date

  D.O.E. USE ONLY:
  Date application received: ______________________(postmark)
  Notification of approval sent: ______________________(date)
  Date grade and payment documentation received: ______________
  Date request for payment forwarded to finance: ______________