St. James Parish Public School System
Professional Growth Reimbursement
Program
Contact person: Simone Labat, Director - [email protected]
Our Commitment:
We encourage all
employees to pursue continued education so that each may meet his highest
potential.
With the aide
of several federal programs and state grants, St. James Parish School System
will be able to continue its support of educators as they work toward
certification and highly qualified status.
To apply for these funds, an employee must contact the school system as
soon as verification of payment and acceptance is received. Upon successful completion of testing/coursework,
the employee will be reimbursed. (Reimbursement checks are issued twice
yearly.) Necessary documentation includes receipts, grades/scores, and
completed reimbursement form. Guidelines and limits are elsewhere in this
brochure. Funds are limited and on a
first-come, first-served basis. Funds can only be reimbursed within one
calendar year from completion. (July 1-June
30)
The school
system along with academic representatives from each employee category (service
office, teachers, administrators, aides) met to create a priority list for
professional growth/certification
funding. It is our belief, that
the best use of funds is to maintain a certified, highly qualified staff. With this in mind, the following comprises
the prioritization of how fees will be reimbursed:
1. CERTIFICATION: Praxis and
coursework for the purpose of becoming certified; PL License, OFAT, TAT, and
VTIE included.
2. ADVANCED DEGREE/CERTIFICATION: Any coursework
and/or Praxis exams leading to a Masters in a content area or certification in
an additional content area
3. DUAL ENROLLMENT CREDENTIALS: Any coursework leading to a teacher being credentialed for dual enrollment.
4. NATIONAL BOARD
CERTIFICATION
5. RELICENSURE: Courses
meeting the criteria set forth by the state for renewal of Louisiana teaching
license.
Reimbursement Categories
Praxis
Certification (alternative cert. program)
Content area specific
Administration (during critical shortage
only)
Coursework
Certification
Content area specific
Advanced Degree Program
VTIE
National Board Certification
Guidelines:
What
Praxis fees will be reimbursed?
Registration
fees only; No late fees
How many
times per year can a staff member request Praxis reimbursement?
2 times per
year per test; will be paid on a first-come-first-served basis; a person can
submit more than 2 and if funds become available the fees will be paid with a
limit of $400 per person per school year.
What
will be reimbursed for coursework?
Coursework
pursued from any universities and online universities that are accredited and
recognized by the Louisiana State Department of Education
What specific fee limits apply?
Maximum of
$400 per 3 credit hours maximum of $800 per 6 credit hours; maximum of $1200 per 9 credit hours;
no late fees, no technology fees, no parking fees
Any
other limits?
A teacher
must agree to remain in the district one semester for each semester reimbursed
through this program. This program is
considered a loan to be forgiven by teaching for the district. This means that the semester of teaching must
occur when no tuition is being reimbursed.
Failure to teach for the district will result in repayment for the
entire tuition loaned to the teacher.
Will all
completed coursework be reimbursed?
No, only
coursework successfully completed with a grade of “C” or better.
What
National Board fees are reimbursed?
Participants
may claim a maximum of $800 with the successful completion of the entire
certification program.