Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship

Transcription

1 Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship The Utah State Board of Education, in support of Utah Code Section 53A-6-802, has adopted rules for the Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship. The purpose of the Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship is to provide funds to paraeducators seeking to become licensed educators. Paraeducators who deliver instruction under the direct supervision of a teacher and work in the areas of special education, Title I, or ESL including remediation in reading, math, or science are eligible to apply. The procedures for application for this scholarship are as follows: 1. Obtain an application from the employing district or charter school, or from the Utah State Office of Education website at 2. Complete the scholarship application form and submit it to the employing district superintendent or charter school director by June 15 th. 3. Districts and charter schools will rank the applications according to their recommendations of the candidates. 4. Districts and charter schools will submit applications to Educator Quality and Licensing at the Utah State Office of Education no later than July 15 th. 5. A Utah State Board of Education-appointed committee will determine the final recipients and the amount of each award according to district/charter rankings and available funding. 6. Scholarship recipients and all other applicants will be notified by August 1 st.

2 Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship Application Date: School District/Charter School: Name of Applicant: Address: Address: Phone Number: Day Evening What is your current assignment? Special Education Title I ESL Other How many hours per week do you work? Highest level of education completed: Name the Utah college or university to which you have either been admitted or made application: Please check the box that describes your current enrollment status: Submitted an application Have been admitted Currently enrolled and attending classes/number of credit hours completed: Describe your typical daily work as a paraeducator: How will this scholarship help you to pursue a degree in education? Total amount of predicted tuition expenses for the school year: Applicant s Signature Date: Principal s Signature Date: Applicants must submit this completed application to their district superintendent/charter school director no later than June 15, District/Charter School Use Only Districts/charter schools must submit all applications on or before July 1, 2008 to: Utah State Office of Education, Educator Quality and Licensing Attn: Barbara Bickmore 250 East 400 South, P.O. Box , Salt Lake City, UT Phone: (801) Fax: (801) barbara.bickmore@schools.utah.gov

3 THIS NEW RULE WAS APPROVED BY THE UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON FIRST AND SECOND READING ON MAY 9, DRAFT MAY 9, 2008 R277. Education, Administration. R Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship Program. R Definitions. A. Board means the Utah State Board of Education. B. Paraeducator for purposes of this rule means a school employee who: (1) delivers instruction under the direct supervision of a teacher; and (2) works in an area where there is a shortage of qualified teachers, such as special education, Title I, English as a Second Language, reading remediation, math, or science. C. Paraeducator Scholarship Selection Committee (Committee) means the committee established by the Board to select scholarship recipients. D. Scholarship for purposes of this rule means funds provided by the Board directly to a paraeducator to pay only for the actual and documented costs for tuition toward an associate's or a bachelor's degree. E. USOE means the Utah State Office of Education. R Authority and Purpose. A. This rule is authorized by Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests general control and supervision of public education in the Board, Section 53A-1-401(3) which permits the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities, and Section 53A-6-802(8) which requires the Board to make rules to administer the Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship Program. B. The purpose of this rule is to distribute funds to paraeducators seeking to become licensed educators and to establish application and accountability procedures to provide funding to prospective educators directly and fairly. R Scholarship Amounts and Requirements. A. A paraeducator stipend awarded under this rule shall be used solely and completely for expenses approved by Section 53A and this rule between July 1, 2008 and June 30, B. A scholarship recipient shall remain continuously employed, consistent with the employment agreement and Section 53A (7). C. A scholarship recipient shall provide documentation of progress toward graduation, as requested by the employer or the Board Ḋ. A scholarship recipient who does not remain employed for the duration of the scholarship period or who does not satisfactorily complete funded courses may be responsible to reimburse the Board for the amount of scholarship funding. E. The Committee shall determine funding for applicants from applications received from school districts and charter schools 1

4 THIS NEW RULE WAS APPROVED BY THE UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON FIRST AND SECOND READING ON MAY 9, DRAFT MAY 9, 2008 after considering the number of applications received and the amount of funding available. F. The Committee may develop and consider selection criteria including: (1) support from the recommending school districts/charter schools; and (2) geographical distribution of recipients. R Applicant Scholarships Recipient and School District/Charter School Responsibilities. A. Scholarship recipients shall be employed for a minimum of 10 hours per week by a public school district or charter school at the time of application for the Paraeducator Scholarship or during the school year. B. Scholarship applicants shall submit completed applications found on the USOE website or available from the USOE in person or by mail to their employers no later than June 15, C. Applicants shall provide information about tuition expenses only on the completed application based on the most recent information available from the Utah institution of higher education to which the applicant has either been admitted or made application. D. School districts and charter schools shall rank completed applications of qualified paraeducators within the school district or charter school in priority order and submit all applications to the USOE on or before July 1, E. Scholarship recipients and school districts/charter schools whose employees receive funding shall cooperate on any assessment required by the Board. R State Board of Education Staff/Committee Responsibilities. A. The Board shall establish a Paraeducator Scholarship Selection Committee and working procedures for the Committee consistent with 53A 6-802(4) by May 15, B. The Committee shall consist of: (1) one Board member designated by the Board; (2) one representative of the Board of Regents designated by the Board of Regents; (3) one representative of the largest parent/teacher association in the state; (4) no more than two additional representatives designated by the Board consistent with Section 53A-6-802(4). C. The Committee shall receive completed and ranked applications from school districts and charter schools consistent with R D. The Committee shall identify recipients for funding based on criteria of Section 53A (4)(d). 2

5 THIS NEW RULE WAS APPROVED BY THE UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON FIRST AND SECOND READING ON MAY 9, DRAFT MAY 9, 2008 E. The Committee shall provide names of scholarship recipients to the Board for review and comment by August 1, annually. F. The Committee or the Board may require a summary assessment of the increased number of paraeducators who become educators and other program results from participating scholarship recipients, school districts, and charter schools. KEY: paraeducator, scholarship Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2008 Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A (3); 53A-6-802(8) 3

6 Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship Common Questions and Answers Q: When will the Paraeducator to Teacher Scholarship be available? A: The program is in effect for the school year. Q: Who may apply for this scholarship? A: A paraeducator who delivers instruction under the direct supervision of a teacher and works in an area where there is a shortage of qualified teachers, such as special education, Title I, English as a Second Language, reading remediation, math, or science may apply. Q: How do I apply for a scholarship? A: Complete the scholarship application form and submit it to your building principal or charter school director. Q: What is the deadline for applications? A: Scholarship applications must be submitted to paraeducators employers no later than June 15, Districts/charter schools must submit applications to the USOE no later than July 1, Q: How much will the scholarship pay for? A: A state committee will determine the amount of the individual scholarships. Q: What can the scholarship be used for? A: It is to be used for actual costs of tuition. Q: How will I know if I have received the scholarship? A: Recipients will be notified by mail after August 1, Q: What if I am a part-time employee? Do I still qualify for the scholarship? A: The applicant must be employed a minimum of ten hours per week at the time of application or during the school year. Q: Do I have to already be taking classes at a college or university? A: The scholarship is intended for paraeducators who either have been admitted or made application to a Utah institution of higher education. Q: Whom should I call if I have additional questions? A: Call Barbara Bickmore at with additional questions. Utah State Office of Education 250 E 500 S P.O. Box Salt Lake City, UT