DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO.201
August 29, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
2008-2009
Tuition Assistance for Early Childhood Special Educators |
The Virginia Department of Education has budgeted
a portion of Section 619 Preschool Grant funds, to provide tuition assistance
of up to $600 per course for a maximum of three courses per year for early
childhood special educators. These funds are available to the following
personnel who have a full-time contract with a public school division for the 2008-2009
school year and are not participating in a special education personnel
preparation program funded by the Virginia Department of Education:
early childhood special education
teachers who hold a valid
teachers who are enrolled in
graduate-level courses meeting competencies in the early childhood special
education endorsement area;
speech-language pathologists for whom
preschoolers with disabilities make up at least 50 percent of their caseloads
and who are enrolled in graduate-level coursework directly related to the area
in which they are providing services or in early childhood special education;
and
full-time
special education paraprofessionals who are employed full-time in an early
childhood special education program and are enrolled in undergraduate or
graduate-level coursework related to the early childhood special education
area.
The teacher or speech-language pathologist is responsible
for ensuring that any courses taken for licensure in special education satisfy
state requirements. The Division of Teacher Education and Licensure will assist
in reviewing the requested coursework.
The funding
period for this activity ends September 30, 2009. If the number of applications
received exceeds funds available, tuition assistance will be awarded on a first-come,
first-serve basis.
Completed
tuition assistance applications must be submitted to the Virginia Department of
Education 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 (804) 225-2047 or e-mail: pat.burgess@doe.virginia.gov. The attached application form should
be submitted by fax or mail to:
Dr.
Patricia D. Burgess
Virginia
Department of Education
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
Fax: (804) 786-6759
BKCJr/PSP/pdb
Attachment
a. Application for
Tuition Assistance for Early Childhood Special Educators (Word)