COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 127
June 11, 2004
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
2004-2005 Tuition Assistance for Special Educators |
The Department of Education has budgeted a portion of
Virginia's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B grant funds to
provide tuition assistance of up to $400 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 school division for
the 2004-2005 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 conditional or provisional license
teaching school-age students ages 5 to 21, speech-language pathologists who
hold a provisional license, and special education paraprofessionals assisting
special education programs for school-age students ages 5 to 21.
Eligible teachers and speech-language pathologists are those
individuals who are enrolled in graduate-level courses meeting competencies in
the endorsement area in which they are providing instruction and seeking
licensure. The teacher or
speech-language pathologist is responsible for ensuring that any courses taken
for licensure in special education satisfy state requirements (Licensure Regulations
for School Personnel, effective July 1998). The Division of Teacher Education
and Licensure will assist in reviewing the requested coursework.
Eligible 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 funding
period for this activity ends June 30, 2005. If the number of applications
received exceeds funds available, tuition assistance will be awarded on a
first-come, first-serve basis, according to the postmark stamped on the
application envelope.
Completed
tuition assistance applications should be submitted to the 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 (mailto:pburgess@mail.vak12ed.edu) or (804) 225-2096. The attached
application form should be submitted to:
Dr.
Patricia D. Burgess
Specialist
for Special Education Human Resources Development
Division
of Teacher Education and Licensure
Virginia
Department of Education
Richmond,
VA 23218-2120
Fax
(804) 786-6759
Please
contact Dr. Burgess for information about the application status or
reimbursement.
JLD/pdb
Attachment
/administrators/superintendents_memos/2004/inf127a.pdf