INFORMATIONAL

  The 1998 session of the Virginia General Assembly
  appropriated funding for statewide clinical faculty and
  mentor teacher programs to assist preservice teachers and
  beginning teachers in making a successful transition into
  full-time teaching.  Funding includes $500,000 the first
  year and $700,000 the second year of the 1998-2000
  biennium.

  School divisions and colleges and universities are
  encouraged to form partnerships to submit grant proposals. 
  A description of the cooperative arrangement between school
  divisions and institutions of higher education, including
  the duties and responsibilities of each, must be included
  in the proposal. In addition, local school divisions and
  institutions of higher education are strongly encouraged to
  work together to achieve statewide representation and
  availability of such programs throughout the Commonwealth. 
  Further, as stipulated in the appropriation act, provisions
  for a local resource or institutional commitment of 50
  percent, to match state grants of 50 percent, are required.

  The enclosed application packet includes instructions for
  the submission of a proposal, a statement of assurances, 
  and the "Standards for Teacher Education Clinical Faculty"
  developed by the Virginia Association of Colleges of
  Teacher Education/Association of Teacher Educators of
  Virginia (VACTE/ATE of VA).  The proposal must include a 
  description of the clinical faculty/mentor teacher program
  and the method and criteria for the selection, training,
  support, and compensation of clinical faculty and mentor
  teachers.  The criteria for the selecting and training of
  K-12 teachers as clinical faculty should conform to the
  standards established by VACTE/ATE of Virginia. Proposals
  also must include the clinical faculty and mentor teacher
  assignment process and describe  procedures for the
  evaluation of the program.

  Proposals will be funded for the 1998-2000 biennium. 
  Budgets must be submitted for each year, 1998-1999 and
  1999-2000.  Funds may be used retroactively to July 1,
  1998.

  Proposals must be submitted to the Department of Education
  no later than November 16, 1998.  Recipients will receive
  notification of approval of program funding from the
  Department of Education by December 1, 1998.     

  Questions should be directed to Dr. Thomas A. Elliott, Ms.
  Sandra Aldrich, 804-225-2096, or Ms. Byrd Latham, 804-225-2104.


  TAE/bgl

  Attachments: A hard copy of this memo and its attachments
               will be sent to the superintendent's office.

  c: Deans/Directors of Teacher Preparation Programs in Virginia