COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 111
June 27, 2003
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
2003-2004
Tuition Assistance for Special Educators |
The Department of Education has budgeted a portion of
Virginia's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B grant funds to
provide tuition assistance of up to $400 per course for a maximum of three
courses per year for special educators. These funds are available to the
following personnel who are under contract with a school division for the
2003-2004 school year and are not participating in a special education
personnel preparation program funded by the Virginia Department of Education:
special education teachers who hold a conditional or provisional license
teaching school-age students ages 5 to 21, speech-language pathologists who
hold a provisional license, and special education paraprofessionals assisting
special education programs for school-age students ages 5 to 21.
Eligible teachers and speech-language pathologists are those
individuals who are enrolled in graduate-level courses meeting competencies in
the endorsement area in which they are providing instruction and seeking
licensure. The teacher or
speech-language pathologist is responsible for ensuring that any courses taken
for licensure in special education satisfy state requirements (Licensure Regulations
for School Personnel, effective July 1998). The Division of Teacher Education
and Licensure will assist with review of the requested coursework.
Eligible paraprofessionals are those who are employed
full-time in a special education program and are enrolled in undergraduate or
graduate-level coursework related to the special education area in which they
are providing instructional assistance.
The funding
period for this activity ends June 30, 2004. If the number of applications
received exceeds funds available, tuition assistance will be awarded on a
first-come, first-serve basis, according to the postmark stamped on the
application envelope.
Additionally, all special educators approved for tuition assistance will be required to sign and return an agreement of obligation. This agreement requires individuals who receive tuition assistance or monetary support for completion of licensure requirements from projects funded by the Virginia Special Education State Improvement Grant, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or the Virginia General Assembly to complete a service obligation or repay all or part of the costs of such assistance beginning July 1, 2003. For every $1000 support over the programs duration, recipients must maintain full-time employment in special education for a period of one semester or repay the Virginia Department of Education for the assistance they received.
Completed
tuition assistance applications should be submitted to the Department of
Education immediately after enrollment and prior to completion of the course.
No applications will be considered after the last day on which a course is
offered.
If you have
questions regarding eligibility for the tuition assistance, please contact Dr.
Patricia Burgess, specialist for special education human resources development,
Division of Teacher Education and Licensure, at (mailto:pburgess@mail.vak12ed.edu) or (804) 225-2096. The attached
application form should be submitted to:
Dr.
Patricia D. Burgess
Specialist
for Special Education Human Resources Development
Division
of Teacher Education and Licensure
Virginia
Department of Education
Richmond,
VA 23218-2120
Fax
(804) 786-6759
Please
contact Dr. Burgess for information about the application status or reimbursement.
JLD/pdb
Attachment
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