2009-10
Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program
Fact Sheet

• Be a full-time, publicly-funded school* employee while holding a valid Florida Teacher's Certificate (Temporary or Professional) or Florida Department of Health License (Temporary or Permanent) issued by July 15.
• Be enrolled in a course or courses (during the current academic year) in a critical teacher shortage area for college credit.  Such course(s) shall be:
  (a) State-approved undergraduate or graduate-level courses taken for college credit leading to a master's, specialist, or doctoral degree at a grade level and in a subject area designated as a CTS subject area; or
  (b) State-approved undergraduate or graduate-level courses taken for college credit with the intent to gain or renew certification or endorsement at a grade level and in a subject area designated as a CTS subject area; or
  (c) College credit courses taken during the current academic year, defined as fall, winter/spring, and summer.
• Have passed approved course(s) with a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.  Courses taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory or pass/fail basis will not be reimbursed unless a signed statement (on school letterhead) is submitted to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) from the dean/director of the program or course instructor certifying that successful completion of the course is equivalent to a 3.0.
• Not have received, nor is receiving, sufficient funds from other sources (such as the school district) to fully cover the cost of tuition for any course applied for through the CTSTR.  If an applicant has received or is receiving funds from other sources, the amount must be stated on the application for this program. Student loans are not considered "other sources."
• Not owe a repayment under any state or federal Title IV grant or scholarship programs unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
• Not be in default on any federal Title IV or state student loan program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.

• Submit for 2008-09 Teaching Service, a fully completed error free Initial Teacher Florida Financial Aid Application to the FDOE, OSFA at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by September 15.  Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then Initial State Teacher Application.  This application is available online January 1.
  • Submit only one application, not one for each term. Update the first submitted application with additional courses taken throughout the year.
  • Hardcopy applications may be mailed to:  Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance, State Scholarship and Grant Programs, 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 70, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759.
• Contact OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004 if the application acknowledgement correspondence has not been received within ten business days following date of submission.
• Ensure that verification for the courses taken has been conducted by the dean, director, or registrar at each postsecondary institution attended for which tuition reimbursement is being requested.
  • If the applicant attended a Florida postsecondary institution, the institution must complete the course certification online by September 15 of the current academic year.
  • If the applicant attended an out-of-state institution, the applicant must download, print, and send the hardcopy Postsecondary Institution Certification Form (pdf) to the appropriate institution.  The institution must then submit the completed Postsecondary Institution Certification Form (pdf) to OSFA by September 15 of the current academic year.  Hard copies should be mailed to:  Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance, State Scholarship and Grant Programs, 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 70, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759.
• Ensure that the school district superintendent, charter school administrator, or designee has correctly certified the applicant’s current academic year employment online using the Employment Certification Form by September 15.
• An applicant should verify OSFA’s receipt of the completed form online by using the User ID and PIN** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.

• Verify all information submitted online by the applicant, Employer Certifier, postsecondary institution(s), FDOE Certification, and/or FDOH Licensure is accurate.
• Verify completion of this information using the User ID and PIN** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.  Visit www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, and select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Application Status & Award History, and then under Initial Teacher Status, select Application/Certification.
• Ensure that personal e-mail is checked frequently to avoid delay in reviewing official, time-sensitive communication sent by OSFA.


Note: An application checklist is provided for all Teacher Program applicants at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by selecting State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, Initial State Teacher Application, and then Application Checklist.

• CTSTR Program awards may be prorated and vary each year depending upon annual funding, the number of eligible applicants, and timely receipt of all required forms and documentation described in the Eligibility Requirements.
• Applicants funded may receive tuition reimbursement at a rate not to exceed $78 per semester hour, excluding special fees.
• Previous annual award amounts may be viewed in the OSFA Annual Report to the Commissioner (pdf).  (For the 2008-09 Award Year, the prorated award was $14 per semester hour.)

• From the funds available, OSFA will notify an applicant who meets the eligibility requirements in late fall.
• Eligible applicants will be notified of the award amount and expected time of disbursement in late fall.  The award will be issued in the form of a check made payable to the participating employee.
  • Track your award eligibility via the OSFA Web site at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org using the User ID and PIN** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.  Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Application Status & Award History, and then under Initial Teacher Status select Award.

• Tuition reimbursement is available for up to 9 semester hours, or the equivalent in quarter hours per academic year, for a program maximum of 36 cumulative semester hours or the equivalent.
• For purposes of the CTSTR Program, a school year is defined as the fall, winter/spring, and summer semesters, or equivalent quarter terms preceding the application deadline.

• By accessing and updating his/her record on the OSFA Web site at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, using the assigned User ID and PIN:
  • Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications,
  • select Application Status & Award History, and then
  • under Initial Teacher Update, select the appropriate option.
• By calling OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.

2009-10 Critical Teacher Shortage Areas for the
Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program
for the
2008-09 Academic/Employment Year

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