COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 104
August 2, 2002
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Tuition Assistance for Early Childhood Special
Educators |
The Department of Education has budgeted a portion
of Virginia's Section 619 Preschool Grant funds to provide tuition assistance
of up to $400 per course for no more than three courses per year for early childhood
special educators. These funds are available to the following staff members who
are under contract with a local division for the 2002-2003 school year:
teachers, certain speech and language pathologists, and early childhood special
education paraprofessionals.
Eligible teachers are those enrolled in
graduate-level courses directly related to the area in which they are providing
instruction. Eligible speech and
language pathologists are those 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 instruction
or in early childhood special education.
Eligible paraprofessionals are those who are
employed full-time in an early childhood special education program and are
enrolled in undergraduate or graduate-level coursework directly related to the
area in which they are providing instruction or in early childhood special
education.
Courses may be taken for initial licensure, for
renewal of a teaching license, or for professional development. Professional development may include
coursework to enhance a preschool teacher's ability to present material
supporting Virginias Standards of Learning. The applicant is responsible for
ensuring that any courses taken for licensure in early childhood special
education satisfy state requirements (Licensure
Regulations for School Personnel, effective July 1998). Approval of coursework is the responsibility
of the school division and must be reviewed by the local supervisor of special
education or the division superintendent.
Applicants may combine tuition assistance from Section 619 preschool
grant funds with other state and/or local reimbursement sources as long as the
amount received does not exceed the cost of a course.
The funding period for this activity ends August
31,2003. If the number of applications
exceeds funds available, tuition assistance will be awarded on a first-come,
first-serve basis, according to the postmark stamped on the application
envelope. Priority will be given to unendorsed preschool special education
teachers.
Completed applications are submitted to the
Department of Education immediately
after enrollment in the course and prior to completion of the course. No applications will be considered after the
last day on which a course meets.
If you have questions regarding eligibility for the
tuition assistance, please contact Dr. Patricia D. Burgess, Division of Teacher
Certification and Licensure at (804) 225-2096 or by email at mailto:pburgess@mail.vak12ed.edu. The attached application form should be
submitted to Dr. Burgess, Division of Teacher Certification and Licensure,
Virginia Department of Education, P. O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120.
Please contact Ms. Ossie M. Lawrence at (804) 225-2932 for information about
application status or reimbursement.
JLM/LSB/oml
Attachment
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