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The Mississippi Department of Education and a host of partners provide a variety of benefits, incentives and assistance programs. These programs are for Mississippi teachers of those that are considering relocating into Mississippi and pursuing a teaching career. Keep in mind that you may qualify for assistance from both state and federal programs.
Mississippi Teacher Benefits
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Important: The Mississippi Department of Education does not administrate your student loan. If you have questions about your loan, please contact Mississippi Office of State Student Financial Aid 1-800-327-2980, or Federal Student Aid 1-800-433-3243.
Critical Shortage Area Incentatives
2024/2025 Critical Shortage Areas and Subjects :
These incentives attract qualified teachers to those geographical areas of the state and subject area shortage school districts as designated by the State Board of Education (Subject areas of Math, SPED, Science and Foreign Languages ).
Moving Expense Reimbursement
- Benefits (reimbursement maximum of $1,000)
- Requirements (district approval; one-time award only)
Contact the local school district office and the MDE Office of School Financial Services: 601-359-3294 / https://www.mdek12.org/OSF
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CPS Expanding Tuition Reimbursement Program to Fill Special Education Vacancies
By the time Arlene Comendador joined Frazier International Magnet School on Chicago’s West Side last winter, she already knew she wanted more for herself in her career.
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Comendador began work as a substitute teaching English language arts at the elementary school, but she said it had always been her dream to work with special education students. The problem was, she needed an additional certification and she didn’t know if she’d have the time or money to get that done.
Then she learned from her principal of a new pilot program Chicago Public Schools was running exactly for people like her, offering free tuition to current district teachers so they can get those certifications and help fill desperately needed special education teaching positions.
“It was so worthwhile,” Comendador said, “very much worthwhile for all of us.”
Comendador was part of the first cohort of teachers to take part in the school district’s special education teacher tuition sponsorship program, which subsidizes the costs for educators like Comendador who’re seeking these types of teaching roles.
On Wednesday, the Chicago Board of Education approved funding to expand that even further.
Through the program, the school district will now provide $310,000 in tuition reimbursement for educators who will work to earn a special education endorsement at one of four Chicago-area universities: Chicago State University, National Louis University, Northeastern Illinois University and the University of St. Francis.
Once they earn that endorsement, they’re guaranteed a special education teaching position within CPS for at least one year.
Ben Felton, the CPS executive director of teacher recruitment, called the program a win-win for both teachers and their schools.
“Teachers that have these connections to schools, they know the staff, they know the principals,” he said. “We’re not asking teachers to transfer out of their buildings and there’s a really good chance they know the students too.”
The tuition will be used to support teachers who, once enrolled in a subsequent endorsement program at one of those universities, will take a handful of classes along with a content test over the course of one or two semesters.
About two dozen educators, including Comendador, completed this process as part of a pilot program earlier this year, and with the newly approved funding, 72 more candidates have been selected to begin their coursework starting in January.
Those educators will take three to four classes between the winter and spring semesters, learning more about the methods and assessments involved in working with diverse learners and drafting individualized education plans for their students.
They’ll then earn their endorsement over the summer and be ready to begin work as a full-time special education teacher by the start of the 2021-22 school year.
CPS said it currently has 245 unfilled full-time special education positions. The hope is that this program — along with other initiatives like a residency program, international teaching program and an expanded base of student teachers — can help drive that number down further.
Felton said CPS has added some 800 special education teachers since the start of the 2017-18 school year, but there’s a significant shortage of these difficult-to-fill roles, oftentimes in predominantly Black and Latino schools on the South and West sides.
Those are the areas this program targets, Felton said, and of the latest cohort of educators, 40% are Black and 22% are Latino.
“We’re really excited about the opportunity to continue to invest in veteran teachers in our schools,” Felton said, “and simultaneously addressing a real critical need that we do have special education vacancies and we’re looking for innovative ways to address them.”
Comendador began her work as a special education teacher at Frazier at the beginning of this school year, and said she hopes to continue helping her students “achieve their biggest dreams.”
“They are so wonderful,” she said. “It’s so fulfilling to advocate for them. These students have strength and just need special support to bring out the best in them. And I’m here to help maximize that.”
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
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The Special Education Teacher Tuition Reimbursement Grant can be used to cover tuition costs up to $800.00 per credit hour for a maximum of 18 credits per teacher over three years in alignment with the temporary approval process. Tuition reimbursement does not apply to repeat courses.
A: The first step is to hire a teacher under an initial temporary approval with an effective date 5/14/2021 - 9/30/2025. For more information on Special Education Temporary Approvals, go to the Special Education Personnel Approval System webpage. Q: I am a district administrator working on the grant application for one of my teachers.
Here are some highlights: You must have been employed as a full-time teacher at an eligible school for five complete and consecutive academic years, and at least one of those years must have been after the 1997-98 academic year.; Certain highly qualified special education and secondary mathematics or science teachers can qualify for up to $17,500 in forgiveness.
ISAC is no longer accepting applications for the 2024-25 Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program. Complete applications submitted after March 1, 2024 will be considered for the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver only if available waivers remain after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.
The Special Education Teacher Tuition Reimbursement Grant can be used to cover tuition costs up to $800.00 per credit hour for a maximum of six credits per year, per teacher for up to three years. Tuition reimbursement does not apply to repeat courses. Enrolling in NMU's online Learning Disabilities Program at a tuition rate of $612 per credit ...
Mississippi Department of Education P.O. Box 771 Jackson, MS 39205-0771 Educator Licensure Related Information: 601-359-3483 General MDE Related Information: 601-359-3513
Functionality to certify eligibility for 2024-25 Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program newly-awarded students - as well as transfer students - is available in the SETTW system. Each of the twelve Illinois public universities with students who were awarded 2024-25 tuition waivers has been sent an e-mail from ISAC ...
The Special Education Teacher Tuition Reimbursement Grant can be used to cover tuition costs up to $800.00 per credit hour for a maximum of six credits per year, per teacher for up to three years. Tuition reimbursement does not apply to repeat courses.
Special Education Tuition Reimbursement Qualification for Reimbursement: 1. Must possess a Michigan certification as a education elementary or secondary teacher. 2. Must voluntarily accept assignment to a special education classroom/program and agree to the special education assignment for the period of time it takes to secure special
The SETTA program provides tuition assistance for in-service paraprofessionals that seek to earn a special education teaching certification. The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the OSERS Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has prioritized reducing exclusionary discipline ...
The Special Education Teacher Tuition Assistance (SETTA) program provides tuition reimbursement to PEAs for paraprofessionals and educational interpreters that leads to the Standard Teaching Certificate in mild/moderate disabilities, moderate/severe disabilities, deaf/hard of hearing, visually impaired, or early childhood special education.
Department of Education Implements TEACH Grant ...
Complete the entire application for the paraprofessional or educational interpreter candidate to be eligible for tuition reimbursement to become a special education teacher. Submissions are limited to one application per PEA. Applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24, 2023.
If the cost is greater than $800/credit hour, the district may only request reimbursement for up to $800/credit hour. Example: If all the grant criteria are met and a teacher takes a 3-credit course and tuition is $1000/credit hour, the district may only request a reimbursement for $2400, not $3,000.
Through the program, the school district will provide $310,000 in tuition reimbursement for educators who will work to earn a special education endorsement at one of four Chicago-area universities ... Felton said CPS has added some 800 special education teachers since the start of the 2017-18 school year, but there's a significant shortage of ...
Welcome to the online application process for the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program. Important information regarding this program may be accessed by selecting from among the options that appear in the menu at the right margin of this page. Be sure you read and understand this information prior to submitting an ...
Families of students with special needs may seek reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while enrolled in public schools between March 13, 2020 through May 14, 2021. Can Pre-K students or Head Start students qualify for reimbursement? Yes, young children with IEPs may be eligible for reimbursement. Will the reimbursement accommodate
The Special Education Teacher Tuition Assistance (SETTA) program provides funding reimbursement for tuition assistance to paraprofessionals and educational interpreters that leads to special education teaching certification. Certifications that satisfy the application requirements:
The following districts are eligible to participate in the special education teacher tuition reimbursement grant. Eligible districts have a 60 percent or higher free and reduced lunch population based on fall 2019 data. Intermediate School District. Eligible District. District Code.
The grant does not take the place of the Special Education Personnel Approvals process, but rather it enhances it by making Special Education Teacher Tuition Reimbursement Grant funds available. The grant can be used to cover tuition costs up to $800.00 per credit hour for a maximum of six credits per year, per teacher for up to three years.
Special Education Teacher Tuition Assistance (SETTA) Application Please note: Applicant must have been employed by the PEA for two full school years as of June 30, 2022. Applicant agrees to two full years of teaching in a special education capacity at the PEA once special education certification is achieved.
SETTW Program Overview. {ISAC Rules, Part 2765} The Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program encourages current teachers (not certified in a special education discipline) and academically talented students to pursue careers as nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school ...
Tuition reimbursement is available for all teachers employed under an initial special education teacher temporary approval with an effective date of May 14, 2021-September 30, 2023. For more information on the special education teacher tuition reimbursement grant opportunity, please visit: • Special Education Teacher Tuition Reimbursement Grant
2022-23 Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Rights & Responsibilities. The Illinois General Assembly established the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program to encourage current teachers and academically talented students to pursue careers as Illinois public, private or parochial elementary and secondary ...