INFORMATIONAL

In 1987, Congress created the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship 
Program in memory of Christa McAuliffe, the New Hampshire 
teacher who served as an astronaut on the space shuttle 
Challenger in January 1986.  The mission of the Christa 
McAuliffe Fellowship program is to provide an opportunity 
for outstanding, experienced classroom teachers to develop 
education projects and programs that will assist in their 
state's education improvement initiatives, enhance their own 
professional skills, or improve classroom instruction. 

In 1996, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) 
became the program manager and distributor of funds to 
departments of education in the nation. In accordance with 
the regulations established by CCSSO for the implementation 
of the Fellowship, the Virginia Department of Education has 
received two grants totaling $62,000 to support the 
activities of two Virginia fellows. Both fellows will 
receive $31,000 and will implement their activities during 
the 1999-2000 school year.

Application information is enclosed.  Should you have 
teachers who are interested in applying for a fellowship 
award, please have them complete the enclosed application 
and mail 10 copies on or before May 14, 1999, to Byrd G. 
Latham, Teacher Education Specialist, Division of Teacher 
Education and Licensure, Virginia Department of Education, 
P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120.

Your support of this program is encouraged and appreciated. 
 If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact 
Byrd Latham at 804-225-2104 or e-mail 
blatham@pen.k12.va.us.

PDS/bl
Enclosures:     A hard copy of this memo and its attach-
                will be sent to the superintendent's 
                office.

c:      Public School Principals
        Accredited Nonpublic Schools

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