DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 202
August 29, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
2008-2009
Tuition Assistance for Special Educators |
The Virginia Department of Education has budgeted
a portion of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B grant
funds, to provide tuition assistance of up to $500 per course for a maximum of
three courses per year for 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:
special education teachers who hold a
valid Virginia conditional or provisional license teaching students ages five
to 21 and who are enrolled in graduate-level courses meeting competencies for the special education endorsement
area in which they are providing instruction and seeking licensure;
speech-language
pathologists who hold a Virginia provisional license and who are enrolled in
graduate-level courses meeting competencies for the speech-language pathology
endorsement area in which they are providing services and seeking licensure;
and
paraprofessionals are those individuals 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 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 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 (804) 225-2096 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 Special Educators (Word)