TEACHER DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, & STIPENDS

Link for your information:  Resources for Proteges Enrolled in Courses, But Not Yet Working in the LI Field.  

 APPLICATIONS ARE ON A WAITLIST FOR THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES

We have exceeded our funding for the 2024- 2025 school year. For all applications that I've already been submitted, the leadership team will take a look at the applications and be in touch with you as soon as possible.

• TUITION SUPPORT

• RETENTION STIPENDS

• EMPOWERED PIPELINE

Tuition Support

Region 10 Low Incidence Projects and the Region 10 Directors of Special Education have set aside $40,000 in funds available to support current or prospective teachers in pursuing special education licensure in a variety of special education areas. 

To qualify, you must be a Tier 3 or Tier 4 special education teacher.

Candidates must me a part of the Region 10, Southeast Minnesota Schools.

Region 10 EmpowerED Pipeline Grant

The Region 10 EmpowerED Pipeline Grant will increase the number of Tier 3 licensed special education teachers by funding the professional development of Tier 1 and Tier 2 educators over a multi-year period. The grant is a direct response to the critical shortage of qualified special education teachers in the region, which has created significant barriers to providing inclusive and effective education for students with diverse learning needs.

To Qualify, contact your director of special education and ask about the Region 10 EmpowerED Pipeline Grant (aka special education pipeline grant). 2024-25 priority will be Tier 2 teachers enrolled in a special education prep program.

Candidates must be a part of the EmpowerED member districts including Albert Lea, Austin, Cannon Valley Special Education Cooperative, Faribault, Fillmore Central, Goodhue County Ed District (or member districts), Hiawatha Valley Ed District (or member districts), Houston, Medford, MSA, Northfield, Owatonna, Pine Island, SMEC (or member districts), Winona, Zumbro Ed District (or member districts).

WHEN TO APPLY AND ANNUAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Enrollment & Application:

1. Enroll in a teacher preparation program approved by PELSB (see the recommended schools)

2. Once Accepted, complete the Application for Grow Your Own Initiatives in Region 10

3. Approvals are reviewed on a monthly basis. Apply early.

TUITION SUPPORT APPLICANTS

Reimbursement Each Semester:

1. Upon completion of the course(s), you will need to complete the Tuition Support Reimbursement Form and return to me no later than June 30th of each year. When submitting your reimbursement, you must submit the following documentation:

   1. Reimbursement Form

   2. Grades for which you are seeking reimbursement

   3. Balance of your tuition (reimbursement may not exceed the cost of credits and any additional grants received) the reimbursement will be adjusted based on the total cost and credits for the grant.

2. The Tuition Support Reimbursement Form can also be found on the Region 10 Low Incidence website.

REGION 10 EMPOWERED GRANT or SOUTHEAST MN GYO APPLICANTS

Each Semester

1. Send Christian, cwernau@zumbroed.org, a copy of your transcript (does not need to be official).

2. Send Christian Wernau, cwernau@zumbroed.org the link to review your account to be paid.

3. Christian will sign in and download the invoice for school after all scholarships and grants have been awarded and added to the account.

4. Christian will submit a check request to be paid directly to the school for the remaining balance.

Annually by August 1st:

1. Complete the Application for Grow Your Own Initiatives in Region 10 and select “continuing application” to update your course of study for the year.

2. Approvals are reviewed on a monthly basis. Apply early.

Getting Started with Regional Grow Your Own Initiatives 

Overview & Intent of Tuition Reimbursement

The Regional 10 Low Incidence Projects (Region 10-LIP) has funds available to support students pursuing special education licensure in several areas. These funds are made possible with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education using federal funding,   Special Education—Program to States, CFDA 84.027A.

The intent of the tuition reimbursement program is to increase the number of available teachers licensed in low incidence disability licensure areas throughout the Southeast Minnesota area.  It is the expectation that teachers benefitting from this tuition reimbursement pursue MN professional educator licensure in ABS, ASD, B/VI, COMS, D/HH, DAPE, DD, EBD, ECSE, LD, P/HD, School Psychologist, SLP, and/or WBL; work in this capacity in a Southeast Region 10 school districts upon the completion of course requirements; and actively pursue and/or be available for employment in this capacity as soon as possible.

Application is a rolling deadline reviewed monthly until funding is no longer available. 

Regional Low Incidence Facilitator (RLIF)

Region 10 includes districts within the 11-county Southeast area. 

Region Map

Chrsitian Wernau is your RLIF for Region 10. You can reach him by email at cwernau@zumbroed.org. 

Region 10 Low Incidence Licensure Areas Eligible for Tuition Reimbursement:

• Academic Behavior Strategist (ABS)

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Blind/Visually Impaired (B/VI)

• Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)

• Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH)

• Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE)

• Developmental Disability (DD)

• Emotional Behavioral Disability (EBD)

• Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)

• Learning Disability (LD)

• Physical/Health Disabilities (P/HD)

• School Psychologist

• Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP)

• Work-Based Learning (WBL)

Applicant Requirements

The number of students selected for tuition reimbursement will depend upon the number of qualified applicants and grant funds available in any given year. Applications are reviewed and/or accepted on a first come/first serve basis based on the date the application was received. Areas of disability in particularly high demand within the region will be prioritized if the number of applicants exceeds annual funding. If available funds are depleted for the current school year, a waiting list will be implemented.

• Applicants must be currently employed by a 11-county Southeast area school district or Minnesota public education agency within the 11-county Southeast area as a teacher, or plan on teaching for a school district or public education agency in the 11-county Southeast area at the point of coursework completion.

• Applicants must be enrolled in an approved, accredited university program that provides undergraduate or graduate-level coursework in one of the eligible licensure areas. 

• Applicants must plan to remain employed in the 11-county Southeast area in which they received tuition support for up to 5 years.

Course Requirements & Related Reimbursement Payment Practices

Course requirements for licensure are dependent upon the applicant’s current teaching credentials. Only licensure specific coursework is eligible for reimbursement/support. Additional special education core courses may be required and are the financial responsibility of the applicant. Please see the SoutheastMN Grow Your Own Initiatives available through this application below.

TUITION SUPPORT

Region 10 Low Incidence Projects and the Region 10 Directors of Special Education have set aside $40,000 in funds available to support current or prospective teachers in pursuing special education licensure in a variety of special education areas.  This is a reimbursement for expenses up to $200 per credit. 

To qualify, you must be a Tier 3 or Tier 4 special education teacher.

Reimbursement

Candidates must be a part of the Region 10, Southeast Minnesota Schools.

Applicants will need to provide proof of enrollment and program of study. 

Tuition reimbursement will be paid upon submitting the required documents at the end of each semester within the given timelines. Documentation should be emailed to cwernau@zumbroed.org. 

1. Complete the Region 10 Grow Your Own Initiatives Data Collection

2. Send Christian, cwernau@zumbroed.org

   1. A copy of your current transcript (does not need to be official).

   2. Balance of your tuition (reimbursement may not exceed the cost of credits and any additional grants received) the reimbursement will be adjusted based on the total cost and credits for the grant.

The deadlines for tuition reimbursement for the 2024-2025 school year are:

• June 30, 2024

RETENTION STIPEND

This opportunity is for teachers who do or did not qualify for the tuition support effective fall of 2022 due to the updated information that the federal funds we used were not eligible to be used for Tier 1 or Tier 2 or general education teachers going back for their special education license. This opportunity pays a stipend for up to 2 years of $2,400 per year for working in the school district in Region 10.

To qualify, staff need to obtain a Tier 3 special education teacher between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025.

Candidates must be a part of the Region 10, Southeast Minnesota Schools.

Upon completion of your program, and when you receive your T3 license:

1. Complete the Application for Grow Your Own Initiatives in Region 10

2. Send Christian Wernau, cwernau@zumbroed.org, a copy of your Tier 3 license as soon as possible.

3. Complete a full year teaching in the school district in Region 10, and you will receive a stipend of $2,500 for up to two (2) years.

4. Upon completion of each year, submit the Retention Grant Stipend Form no later than June 30th.

REGION 10 EMPOWERED PIPELINE GRANT

The Region 10 EmpowerED Pipeline Grant will increase the number of Tier 3 licensed special education teachers by funding the professional development of Tier 1 and Tier 2 educators over a multi-year period. The grant is a direct response to the critical shortage of qualified special education teachers in the region, which has created significant barriers to providing inclusive and effective education for students with diverse learning needs. ***Allocations are based on the number of applicants who apply.

To Qualify, contact your director of special education and ask about the Region 10 EmpowerED Pipeline Grant (aka special education pipeline grant). 2024-25 priority will be Tier 2 teachers enrolled in a special education prep program.

Candidates must be a part of the EmpowerED member districts including Albert Lea,

Austin, Cannon Valley Special Education Cooperative, Faribault, Fillmore Central, Goodhue County Ed District (or member districts), Hiawatha Valley Ed District (or member districts), Houston, Medford, MSA, Northfield, Owatonna, Pine Island, SMEC (or member districts), Winona, Zumbro Ed District (or member districts).

Paying the bill for your program:

1. Important information: Keep an open line of communication with Christian Wernau at the time of billing to ensure access is granted and payment can be made.

2. Create a third-party payor account and send it to Christian Wernau, cwernau@zumbroed.org. 

3. Christian will require access to the account to download and print the invoice for school after all scholarships and grants have been awarded and added to the account.

4. Christian will submit a check request to be paid directly to the school for the remaining balance.  According to the statute, all bills MUST be paid directly to the school.

Each Semester

1. Send Christian, cwernau@zumbroed.org, a copy of your transcript (does not need to be official).

2. Complete the Region 10 Grow Your Own Initiatives Data Collection

3. Notify Christian Wernau, cwernau@zumbroed.org that the tuition bill is ready and send him the link to review your account to be paid.

4. Christian will sign in and download the invoice for school after all scholarships and grants have been awarded and added to the account.

5. Christian will submit a check request to be paid directly to the school for the remaining balance.

SOUTHEAST MN GROW YOUR OWN GRANT

Southeast MN GYO Grant will support (20) teachers of color or American Indian from our joint applicant districts to successfully complete a special education preparation program in a Minnesota, PELSB approved program.

To qualify, candidates must be a part of the GYO member districts including Austin Public Schools, Fillmore Central Public Schools, Hiawatha Valley Education District (or member districts), Minnesota State Academies, Southern Minnesota Education Consortium (or member districts), or the Zumbro Education District (or member districts). Preference is given to teachers of color or American Indian.

Paying the bill for your program:

1. Important information: Keep an open line of communication with Christian Wernau at the time of billing to ensure access is granted and payment can be made.

2. Create a third-party payor account and send it to Christian Wernau, cwernau@zumbroed.org. 

3. Christian will require access to the account to download and print the invoice for school after all scholarships and grants have been awarded and added to the account.

4. Christian will submit a check request to be paid directly to the school for the remaining balance.  According to the statute, all bills MUST be paid directly to the school.

Each Semester

1. Send Christian, cwernau@zumbroed.org, a copy of your transcript (does not need to be official).

2. Complete the Region 10 Grow Your Own Initiatives Data Collection

3. Notify Christian Wernau, cwernau@zumbroed.org that the tuition bill is ready and send him the link to review your account to be paid.

4. Christian will sign in and download the invoice for school after all scholarships and grants have been awarded and added to the account.

5. Christian will submit a check request to be paid directly to the school for the remaining balance.

Repayment Schedule

As a beneficiary of this tuition reimbursement, a student is obligated to work as a professional educator for at least 5 years within the disability-specific field of study in a district within the 11-county Southeast area. If the applicant leaves the field before the 5-year mark, they will be required to reimburse Region 10-LIP using the following formula:

• 1 year of completed service reimburses 80% of tuition

• 2 years of completed service reimburses 60% of tuition

• 3 years of completed service reimburses 40% of tuition

• 4 years of completed service reimburses 20% of tuition

• 5 years of completed service reimburses no tuition

If you don’t complete the licensure program, you will be obligated to repay tuition support at 100%. 

The quality of the applicant is a necessary condition for an award. As the primary judgment of quality, reviewers will consider:

1. your potential to succeed in rigorous special education coursework in the available licensure areas;

2. your course grades in the disability-specific courses, which must be a letter grade of A or B (or Pass) to qualify for tuition reimbursement; and

3. your potential, upon completion, to be an effective special education teacher for students in Minnesota who have low incidence disabilities. 

Your status in an accredited ABS, ASD, B/VI, COMS, D/HH, DAPE, DD, EBD, ECSE, LD, P/HD, School Psychologist, SLP, and/or WBL licensure program will also be a factor in the decision. Preferences will be given to (in this order):

1. applicants who have received similar support from the Minnesota Low Incidence Projects or Region 10-LIP previously;

2. those applicants who are starting their programs; 

3. those who have already started their programs and are teaching with special permissions from PELSB in ABS, ASD, B/VI, COMS, D/HH, DAPE, DD, EBD, ECSE, LD, P/HD, School Psychologist, SLP, and/or WBL; and

4. those who have already started their programs but are not yet teaching in this area.

Any questions regarding this application can be directed to cwernau@zumbroed.org.