2007-08
Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program
Fact Sheet

Program Description
The Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program (CTSTR) provides financial support to publicly-funded school employees who hold a valid Florida Teacher’s Certificate or Florida Department of Health License by assisting them with the repayment of undergraduate and graduate educational courses that will lead to certification or endorsement in a statewide critical teacher shortage subject area.

What are the Initial Eligibility Requirements to Receive Funding?
The applicant will:

• 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, 2008.
• 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 critical teacher shortage subject area; or
  (b) State-approved undergraduate or graduate-level courses taken for college credit leading to certification or endorsement at a grade level and in a subject area designated as a critical teacher shortage subject area.
• Have passed an 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.
• 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.

How Does an Employee Apply?
The employee will:

• Submit for 2007-08 Teaching Service, a fully completed (error free) 2008-09 Initial Teacher Florida Financial Aid Application to the FDOE, OSFA at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by September 15, 2008. State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then Initial Teacher Application. This application is available online January 1, 2008.
• 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 Postsecondary Institution Certification Form must be completed by the institution online using the PSI Teacher Certification Reports at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org, and submitted to OSFA by September 15, 2008.
  • If the applicant attended an out-of-state institution, the applicant must download 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, 2008. Hard copies should be mailed to: Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance, State Programs, Suite 70, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759.
• Ensure that the school district superintendent, charter school administrator, or designee has correctly certified the applicant’s employment eligibility online using the Employment Certification Form by September 15, 2008.
• An applicant should verify FDOE’s receipt of the completed form online by using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.
  
  Note: A 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.”

How Does the Employee Renew?
There is no renewal process for the CTSTR Program. Participating employees are required to apply each year for program funding; therefore, there are no reinstatement or restoration requirements. (See initial eligibility requirements.)

What is the Award Process?
Awards are made late fall.

• 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 Office of Student Financial Assistance Annual Report to the Commissioner (PDF). (For the 2006-07 Award Year, the prorated award was $16 per semester hour.)

How are Awards Disbursed?

• 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 in late fall and expected time of disbursement. The award will be issued in the form of a check made payable to the participating employee.

How Long May an Employee Receive Funding?

• 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.

How May an Employee Appeal?
An applicant who believes financial aid has been wrongly denied has certain rights to appeal. A participating employee may appeal if he or she believes the FDOE erred determining eligibility. A Department appeal is to be filed in writing within 30 days of the date of the notice of ineligibility.

How Does an Applicant or Program Participant Make Changes in Information?
An applicant must notify OSFA of any change in name or address. A participating employee may update information in the following ways:

• 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,
  • select Initial Teacher Update, and then the appropriate option. 
• By calling OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.

Use of an Applicant’s Social Security Number/Non-discrimination Statement
The Privacy Act of 1974 requires state agencies to inform applicants of the reasons for requesting their Social Security numbers (SSN). The FDOE requests an SSN on all applications for financial assistance to correctly identify applicants.

An applicant will not be denied financial assistance for failure to disclose the SSN. Without an SSN, correct identification of an applicant's record cannot be assured and may result in an error in the award amount or a delay in the disbursement of an award.

Pursuant to Section 1000.05, Florida Statutes, state student financial assistance is provided to eligible applicants without discriminating on the basis of race, sex, national origin, marital status, or handicap. Minority status will be considered when required by law as a condition of eligibility or selection.

For further information contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance, State Programs, Suite 70, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759 or call toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.

*A school is publicly-funded if it receives at least 75% of its operating costs from governmental agencies and operates its educational program under contract with a public school district or the Department of Education.

**Florida Department of Education
Office of Student Financial Assistance
State Programs
Suite 70, 1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759

*** Applicants/Participants may access their User ID and PIN on the OSFA Web site at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org. Select State Grants, Scholarships, & Applications, Application Status & Award History, and then Get My User ID and PIN.

2007-08 Critical Teacher Shortage Areas for the Critical Teacher
Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program