Policy 3315
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PROCEDURES FOR RECRUITING, RETAINING AND RETRAINING TEACHERS
BRAXTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
Braxton County Schools will implement the following procedures for analyzing data, identifying
deficiencies and designating appropriate solutions for identified problem areas in assuring teachers
teaching core academic classes are highly qualified as per the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
Analyze data and identify deficiencies
Ensure data accuracy
Communicate the necessity for accurate data to all staff who enter data;
Verify course codes and certification codes
Identify problem areas
Involve staff members from personnel, Title I, Title II, certification, WVEIS, principals and other
staff in the data analysis;
Review data at the county and school levels;
Review data for particular subjects and programmatic levels;
Review data for future retirements and subject areas;
Review data for potential transfers and/or deleted positions;
Review teaching assignments of special education teachers;
Review teaching assignments ofK-8 certified teachers employed
at the middle school level;
Review the teaching assignments of teachers of English
language learners;
Identify gaps in data and collect any additional relevant information.
Examine recruiting, retaining and retraining options to increase highly qualified teachers in core
academic classes and identify appropriate solutions.
Recruiting:
Broaden recruiting efforts to reach a wider audience;
Target institutions of higher education that specialize in the category of teacher for which the data
indicates a need.
Require "permit" teachers to become "highly qualified" as soon as possible or within a specified
amount of time;
Recruitment shall adhere strictly to equality of employment opportunity policies as well as WV
Code 18A.
All applications for job postings will be in writing and forwarded to the office of superintendent
within the time frame on the posting;
Job descriptions shall accompany all postings.
Retaining:
Develop supplemental mentoring and induction programs for new teachers based on best
practices;
Provide a means of teacher support through peer coaching/mentoring initiatives;
Develop and implement professional development plans that progress through the states of
awareness, development, transfer, and institutionalization over a period of three or four years;
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Supervisors will provide informal feedback via "walk-throughs".
Retraining:
Provide opportunities for teachers that are highly qualified in one core subject to become highly
qualified in additional core subjects.
Designate appropriate solutions for identified problem areas.
Hiring Policies and Procedures:
Hiring and scheduling procedures as per Braxton County policy will be used to assure that highly
qualified teachers are placed in core academic classes.
Parents' Right To Know:
Parents will be notified of the right to request the qualifications of teachers and paraprofessionals
in Title I schools;
Principals must notify parents of students who are being taught by a teacher that is not highly
qualified after four consecutive weeks;
Principals of Title I schools must attest to the certification and qualifications of teachers on their
staff.
Communicate the plan to stakeholders:
Communicate the plan to parents and the public via the Braxton County parent handbook;
Explain new administrative procedures and timelines to affected personnel.
USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE AND
EMPLOYMENT OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS
BRAXTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
1. PURPOSE.
In an effort to ensure that the children of Braxton County are taught by highly qualified and
effective teachers, Braxton County Schools utilizes federal funds, when appropriate, to recruit
and retain fully certified and highly qualified teachers. This policy identifies the manner in
which Braxton County Schools will use federal funding to increase its employment of highly
qualified teachers and aides.
2. USE OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF
HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS.
2.1. Braxton County Schools, based upon the availability of federal funds, may assist in the
payment of college/university tuition for instructional personnel, regular employees who
currently possess a professional teaching certificate, who qualify to receive benefits under
federal guidelines. This policy allows for the revision of areas of need from year to year to be an
administrative procedure rather than constituting an annual policy revision. The areas of need
shall be submitted to the Board for review.
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2.2. Use of Title I Funds.
2.2.1. Teachers working within a Title I school-wide program are eligible for tuition
reimbursement through Title I funds.
2.2.2. In order to receive tuition reimbursement through Title I, eligible teachers must be
seeking reimbursement for coursework leading to highly qualified status in either
a core subject area or completing coursework for a Reading Specialist
specialization.
2.2.3. Title I funds may not be used for reimbursements provided to teachers in schools
not eligible for Title I funding.
2.2.4. Financial assistance for tuition may be provided only for those areas that are
identified as critical areas of need in Braxton County. Dependent upon available
funding, reimbursement will be granted to the individual for a total of six (6)
semester hours per calendar year; for up to a total of 15 hours toward an advanced
degree, provided the individual continues to be employed by Braxton County
Schools.
2.3. Use of Title II Funds.
2.3.1. Title II funds may be utilized to target the county's need for highly qualified
teachers. Subject area needs identified for the 2011-2012 school year is reading specialist,
special education, speech therapist, chemistry and physics.
2.3.2. Title II funds may only be utilized to reimburse teachers for coursework leading to
highly qualified status in a core subject areas. Core subject areas include civics
and government, economics, English, foreign language, geography, history,
mathematics, reading/language arts, science, and the arts. Title II funds may also
be utilized to reimburse teachers for obtaining special education certification and
for seeking advanced certificates (i.e., National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards) and advanced degrees (i.e., master's and doctoral degrees).
2.3.3. Upon recommendation of the county superintendent and based on a need for
highly qualified teachers, the Braxton County Board of Education may approve the
utilization of Title II funds to provide a stipend to individuals willing to fill a
position of high need in a core subject area and/or special education. Such
stipends may be identified at the school or county level and per identified subject
area.
2.3.4. Financial assistance for tuition may be provided only for those areas that are
identified as critical areas of need in Braxton County. Dependent upon available
funding, reimbursement will be granted to the individual for a total of six (6)
semester hours per calendar year or more, if funding is available; for up to a total of 15 hours
toward an advanced degree, provided the individual continues to be employed by Braxton
County Schools.
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2.4. Braxton County Schools may enter into agreements with institutions of higher
learning to offer courses at a reduced tuition.
3. APPLICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF TUITION THROUGH FEDERAL
PROGRAMS.
3 .1. In order to receive reimbursement for courses through Braxton County Schools'
federal funds, the individual must:
(a) First apply for reimbursement through the West Virginia Department of
Education (WVDE) and receive an "Out of Funds" letter. (Tuition reimbursement
forms may be downloaded from the WVDE website
http://wvde.state.wv.us/certification/forms/Form26.pdf or may be requested from
the Braxton County Schools Personnel Department.)
(b) Request an Application Packet for Tuition Reimbursement from the Braxton
County Schools Federal Programs Director
(c) Complete and return all of the following to the Braxton County Schools
Federal Programs Director:
(i) Application form for tuition reimbursement
(ii) W9 Form
(iii) Certified Transcript of applicable course(s) with a minimum grade point
average of 3.00 for the applicable course(s)
(iv) Receipt for tuition paid that shows no balance owed
(v) Copy of the applicant's "Out of Funds" letter received from the WVDE
3.2. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
3.3 Reimbursement for any single class shall be capped at West Virginia University's cost rate
at the time the application is submitted.
3 .4 All applicants receiving tuition reimbursements beginning with the 2011-2012 school year
must agree through written contract to continue to work in Braxton County for a period of three
(3) years. If the teacher leaves county employment or transfers to another position within the
county prior to fulfilling the contractual obligation, all tuition reimbursements must be repaid to
Braxton County Schools.
4. HIRING PROCEDURES FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED PARAPROFESSIONALS
4.1 All county/state procedures will be followed in the posting of all service personnel
positions.
4.2 Job descriptions will be provided.
4.3 Candidates must hold a high school diploma or GED.
4.4 Candidates will be administered a test for the area of employment. Candidates must pass
the test in order to be eligible for hire.
4.5 The interview team will recommend for hire the most qualified applicant based upon state
statue guidelines.
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Teacher aides may also be included for reimbursement within Title I regulations. However,
the level of need for highly qualified aides is non-existent since all aides in the system have been
tested, and those coming into the system shall also be tested according to policy.
COUNTY TUITION REIMBURSEMENT CHECKLIST FOR TEACHERS
BRAXTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
Only those teachers seeking coursework to be certified for the position they are in (in a shortage area) are
eligible for reimbursement through county funding. Although the State of West Virginia grants funds for
certification renewal, the county does not. To be reimbursed through county funding, the teacher must
submit to the Superintendent or designee the following documentation:
_ _ A copy of Form 36, Tuition Reimbursement (originally signed with the Superintendent) If the
teacher has not retained a copy of the original tuition reimbursement application submitted to the Office
of Professional Preparation, a copy can be printed and sent from their office upon receipt of a signed
request from the teacher, along with a $5 .00 processing fee made out to the West Virginia Department of
Education.
_ _ A completed, signed, and dated W-9 tax form
_ _ A copy of the Out-of-Funds tuition letter issued by the State of West Virginia
(Please remember, to be eligible for county funding, the applicant must first request funding from
the State according to all guidelines and within time frames set forth.) The application deadline
is June 15 of each vear.
_ _ A Certified transcript of applicable courses with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 for the
applicable course(s).
_ _ A receipt for tuition paid. The receipt must reflect a $0 balance due. Canceled checks are not
acceptable. Receipts must include the institution's official seal or watermark.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to maintain a copy of all information for your
records. The State requires that the applicant send in a letter of request and $5 to replace
"only copies" of records needed for a subsequent application for reimbursement even if
the records belong to the applicant.
Please send in all documents at once, rather than one at a time. No reguest for county
funding will be considered until all documentation has been received. Thank you!
S/My Documents/TITLE I/Title I Policies/Tuition Reimbursement
Braxton County
Approved Board Minutes: 912711 O; 8/1/11.