TSP-CIF FAQS
WHAT IS TSP-CIF?
TSP-CIF stands for Technical Support Professionals (TSP) Continuous Improvement Fund (CIF).
TSP-CIF is funded annually and is designed to award funds to eligible TSP employees to offset the
costs of Continuous Improvement Educational Activities (CIEA) such as Seminars, Workshops,
Courses, and Technical and College Level coursework. The funds are a reimbursement, and only paid
after the employee has successfully completed the CIEA.
HOW DID TSP-CIF COME TO EXISTENCE?
TSP-CIF arose from a Memorandum of Understanding between the School Board of Broward County,
Florida and Broward Teachers Union - Technical Support Professional (BTU-TSP). This provision
enabled the creation of a fund that reimburses BTU-TSP employees for continuing education
opportunities so that employees may acquire, maintain and improve their skills within their job family at
no cost or at a reduced cost.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS AWARDED FOR APPROVED TSP-CIA APPLICATIONS?
Continuous Improvement Educational Activities (CIEA) maximum of $2,000.
WHAT IS A CIEA AND WHAT CAN TSP-CIF FUNDS BE USED FOR?
Continuous Improvement Educational Activities (CIEA) eligible for reimbursements include Seminars,
Workshops, Courses, and Technical and College Level coursework. Books, supplies, student/athletic
fees, license fees, exam fees, parking fees, travel, meals or late fees ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
REIMBURSEMENT.
IF MY CIEA COST WOULD BE LESS BY BEING A MEMBER OF AN ORGANIZATION WILL THE
TSP-CIF REIMBURSE THE COST FOR THE MEMBERSHIP?
The committee will consider funding membership fees to an organization only if the total cost of the
CIEA including membership fees results in a net savings to the TSP-CIF program. Applicants would
need to show documentation of savings to the TSP-CIF committee.
WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO INCLUDE AS PART OF FILLING IN THE APPLICATION?
Applicants must provide a brief but complete description of how the CIEA aligns to the current position
or position within the job family showing a specific relationship. This information is used by the
committee to determine approval of funding. If the committee is unable to determine the relationship
based on the information provided, the committee will have no choice but to deny the request. It is the
applicant’s responsibility to making the connections between their job, their skills and the CIEA that is
being requested for consideration.
WHAT COURSES QUALIFY FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT USING TSP-CIF FUNDS?
• Courses must be from an accredited college/university in which the award recipient earned a
passing grade and received college credit of letter grade of C or better.
• Courses must be within the realm of your profession or within a content area.
• Courses that issue a Certificate of Completion or Continuing Education Units (CEUs) without
issuing college credit are also eligible for reimbursement.
• On-line coursework from subscription based websites must be clearly identified as to the course
that will be taken and the expected completion date for the course (listing the site and access to all
courseware will not be accepted)
ARE ALL TSP EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE FOR TSP-CIF FUNDS?
• TSP employees with 8 or more years of service with Broward County Public Schools are eligible to
apply.
• Applicant eligibility requires an effective or highly effective on the evaluation instrument available at
the time of submission of the TSP-CIF application, and applicant must be reappointed and an
active employee in good standing for the 2015-2016 school year.
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• TSP employees must be on active status in order to qualify for TSP-CIF funds. Individuals on any
type of leave are not eligible.
WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR TSP-CIF FUNDS?
The application period for the 2015-2016 school year is October 1-31, 2015.
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?
Initial Applications are to be submitted using the link provided in the Talent Development-NonInstructional Website.
WHO DECIDES HOW TSP-CIF FUNDS ARE AWARDED?
• The TSP-CIF Committee is comprised of 3 representatives from BTU-TSP and 3 representatives
from the Broward County Public Schools. The TSP-CIF Committee reserves the right to review and
change the criteria for future eligibility.
• A rubric has been created to guide in evaluating applications with clear and consistent guidelines for
TSP-CIF. Each applicant must demonstrate how the CIEA aligns to his/her current position or position
in their given job family.
HOW SOON WILL I BE INFORMED AS TO THE STATUS OF MY TSP-CIF APPLICATION?
Applicants will be reviewed in November 2015 and applicants will be notified of their application status
following the committees decision. This may occur after the conclusion of your scheduled CIEA.
Therefore, “out-of-pocket” expenses is to be anticipated, as this is a reimbursement fund and approval
is not guaranteed.
CAN I COMPLETE COURSEWORK BEFORE APPLYING FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
THROUGH TSP-CIF?
Tuition reimbursement applies to activities between the period of June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016. You
must submit your application for TSP-CIF within the application period for funding consideration by the
committee. No guarantees are made of funding for any activity.
CAN A TSP EMPLOYEE SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE TSP-CIF APPLICATION?
Only one application per eligible TSP employee will be accepted. TSP Employees may request up two
(2) CIEAs to be considered by the committee, not to exceed a combined total of the maximum
established amount for Continuous Improvement Educational Activities (CIEA) of $2,000.
IS IT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN ADMINISTRATOR APPROVAL TO SUBMIT A TSP-CIF?
No. However, approval of the TSP-CIF does not guarantee the approval of the Director/Administrator
to attend training, conferences, etc. It is the employee’s responsibility to obtain approvals and
complete the appropriate district documents when applicable.
WHAT HAPPENS IF AN APPLICANT IS NOT ABLE TO UTILIZE THE AWARDED TSP-CIF
FUNDS?
Approved applicants who do not intend to utilize awarded TSP-CIA funds are required to notify the
Leadership and Non-Instructional Development Department. Notification must be emailed to
alex.macri@browardschools.com. Failure to notify the Leadership and Non-Instructional Development
Department may result in ineligibility to apply for future TSP-CIF funding.
IF AN EMPLOYEE INITIALLY DECLINES TSP-CIF FUNDS AND PLANS CHANGE, ARE THEY
STILL ABLE TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS?
Once an employee declines the TSP-CIF funds, they are no longer eligible to receive the funds, and
any request for reinstatement of funds will be denied. The employee may submit an application the
following year for consideration.
CAN I REQUEST AN ADVANCE FROM THE TSP-CIF TO COVER EXPENSES?
No, the TSP-CIF is a reimbursement fund. The applicant must pay for all expenses and attend the
conference in order to receive reimbursement.
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CAN TSP-CIF FUNDS BE USED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF LICENSURE RENEWAL?
At this time, there is no fee assistance for licensure renewals.
HOW DO I OBTAIN A COPY OF MY APPROVED TSP-CIF APPLICATION?
A copy of the approved application will be forwarded to you using the email address provided in your
application.
ONCE APPROVED AND ONCE I COMPLETE MY APPROVED CIEA, BY WHEN DO I HAVE TO
SUBMIT ALL DOCUMENTATION?
Approved applicants are to submit all required documentation outlined in the 2015-2016 TSP-CIF
REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FORM no later than June 1, 2016 to ensure timely processing. Follow
the reimbursement process outlined in the Talent Development-Non-Instructional Website and the
2015-2016 TSP-CIF REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FORM.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TSP-CIF?
Refer to the TSP-CIF Guidelines portal located on the Talent Development-Non-Instructional Website.
WHERE DO I SUBMIT MY REIMBURSEMENT DOCUMENTS?
Approved applicants are to submit ALL required documents for reimbursement using the process
established in the Talent Development-Non-Instructional Website.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR REIMBURSEMENT?
The TSP-CIF Reimbursement Form must be completed and includes a checklist for all necessary
documents which must be submitted for reimbursement. Failure to follow and submit all required
documentation by the deadline may make the applicant ineligible to receive the reimbursement. It is
the It is the applicants responsibility to properly obtain, complete and submit all required
documentation and to follow the established process and timelines.
HOW DO I RECEIVE CONFIRMATION THAT I SUBMITTED MY TSP-CIF APPLICATION?
After you have completed and submitted the online application a confirmation page will state “Thank
you. Your responses have been submitted.”
Revised 9/17/2015
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