The Board shall establish a tuition reimbursement fund and contribute ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) to that fund annually. Employees may request reimbursement from this fund for three hundred dollars ($300.00) per semester hour under the following conditions; 

1. The course will improve the knowledge and skills needed for the Employee to perform his/her job duties, and/or; 

2. The course is a part of a degree program at an accredited college or university, and; 

3. The course is pre-approved at the time of enrollment, without exception by the Executive Director or his/her designee.  First priority will be given for courses that help employees meet the “highly qualified” requirements of federal and state law, and; 

4. The Employee provides an official transcript showing completion of the course with a grade of “B” or higher or in the case of a non-graded course a “pass” or “satisfactory” rating.

No one individual may receive reimbursement for more than six (6) credit hours in any fiscal year. Reimbursement will be made on a first come, first served basis. These decisions will be made by the Executive Director, and will not be subject to the grievance language of this document.

The Executive Director will develop an Administrative regulation to outline the requirements to receive reimbursement to those employees who qualify for these provisions.

In addition to the tuition reimbursement available to Employees pursuant to Section 11.6.1, the Board shall establish a special tuition reimbursement fund and contribute twenty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) to that fund annually.  Employees may request reimbursement from this fund for three hundred dollars ($300.00) per semester hour under the following conditions:

1. The Employee must not be licensed currently in a shortage area identified by the Executive Director, and the Employee must be pursuing an Illinois license in a shortage area.  

2. The Employee must be enrolled in a degree program at an accredited college or university toward obtaining a valid and appropriate Illinois license in an identified shortage area identified by the Executive Director.  The Employee must agree in writing to complete the courses necessary to obtain said license within three (3) years of the commencement of the program, and to not voluntarily leave the employ of the Board (or other EIASE member district) prior to the completion of the program and work commitment defined below.

3. The courses and degree program must be pre-approved at the time of enrollment, without exception, by the Executive Director or his/her designee, and must lead to an Illinois license in a shortage area identified by the Executive Director. 

4. The Employee must agree in writing that in the event he/she fails to obtain said license within three (3) years of the commencement of the program, or if he/she voluntarily leaves the employ of the Board prior to the completion of the program, he/she will reimburse EIASE the tuition reimbursement paid under this Section.  

5. The Employee must agree in writing to commit to a minimum of five (5) years of service to EIASE or an EIASE member district, upon the receipt of the license, in a position in the shortage area identified.  In the event the Employee does not obtain a valid and appropriate Illinois license in the shortage area within three (3) years of the commencement of the program, or leaves the employ of the Board (or other EIASE member district) prior to the expiration of said five (5) year work commitment, he/she will reimburse EIASE the tuition reimbursement paid under this Section.  The amount of the reimbursement will be prorated on an annual basis relative to the extent of the work commitment that has been fulfilled (i.e., if the Employee leaves the employ of EIASE or an EIASE member district after completing two (2) years of the five (5) year work commitment, the Employee must reimburse EIASE three-fifths (3/5) of the tuition reimbursement paid). 

6. Should either the Board or any member district not move to employ the Employee upon completion of the program or dismiss the Employee prior to the completion of the five (5) year work commitment, his/her obligation to reimburse EIASE for tuition reimbursement will not be required. 

7. The Employee must provide an official transcript showing completion of the course with a grade of “B” or higher or in the case of a non-graded course a “pass” or “satisfactory” rating.

 Decisions of the Executive Director under this Section will be final and will not be subject to the grievance procedure in this Agreement.

Special Education Teacher (LBS1)

Early Childhood Special Education Teacher

School Psychologist

Speech and Language Pathologist

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Teacher & Interpreter

Vision Teacher

Social Work or Counseling

LBS2 (Transition Specialist)

The Board shall establish an LBS1 tuition reimbursement program, under the following conditions:

1. The Employee must have a current Illinois teaching license and must not currently have an Illinois LBS1 teaching license.

2. The Employee must be enrolled in a degree program at an accredited college or university toward obtaining a valid and appropriate Illinois LBS1 license.  The Employee must be able to complete the LBS1 license with four (4) courses or less and must agree in writing to complete the courses necessary to obtain said license within one (1) year of the commencement of the program, and to not voluntarily leave the employ of the Board (or other EIASE member district) prior to the completion of the program and work commitment defined below. 

3. The courses and degree program must be pre-approved at the time of enrollment, without exception, by the Executive Director or his/her designee. 

4. The Employee must agree in writing that in the event he/she fails to obtain said license within one (1) year of the commencement of the program, or if he/she voluntarily leaves the employ of the Board prior to the completion of the program, he/she will reimburse EIASE the tuition reimbursement paid under this Section.  

5. The Employee must agree in writing to commit to a minimum of five (5) years of service to EIASE or an EIASE member district, upon the receipt of the license, in a position requiring LBS1 licensure.  In the event the Employee does not obtain a valid and appropriate Illinois LBS1 license within one (1) year of the commencement of the program, or leaves the employ of the Board (or other EIASE member district) prior to the expiration of said five (5) year work commitment, he/she will reimburse EIASE the tuition reimbursement paid under this Section.  The amount of the reimbursement will be prorated on an annual basis relative to the extent of the work commitment that has been fulfilled (i.e., if the Employee leaves the employ of EIASE or an EIASE member district after completing two (2) years of the five (5) year work commitment, the Employee must reimburse EIASE three-fifths (3/5) of the tuition reimbursement paid). 

6. Should either the Board or any member district not move to employ the Employee upon completion of the program or dismiss the Employee prior to the completion of the five (5) year work commitment, his/her obligation to reimburse EIASE for tuition reimbursement will not be required. 

7. No more than four (4) Employees may participate in the LBS1 licensure program per year, and the Board shall contribute up to twenty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) to that program annually. 

8. Upon approval of the program by the Executive Director, EIASE shall pay fifty percent (50%) of the tuition to the college or university at the beginning of each course.  EIASE will reimburse the Employee the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the tuition upon successfully obtaining the LBS1 license.  If an Employee fails to successfully complete a course during this program, they may re-take the course at his or her own expense to remain eligible for the program.

 Decisions of the Executive Director under this Section will be final and will not be subject to the grievance procedure in this Agreement.