SUPTS. MEMO. NO. 139
October 2, 1998 |
TO: | Division Superintendents |
FROM: | Paul D. Stapleton
Superintendent of Public Instruction |
SUBJECT: | Application for Mentor Teacher and Clinical Faculty Funds, 1998-2000 |
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