In September 2003, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), Special Education was awarded a federal State Improvement Grant (SIG). The focus of the SIG’s Goal Three is to support efforts to recruit and retain qualified, fully licensed special education personnel to work in Arkansas public schools. One objective for this goal is to recruit paraprofessionals interested in advancement toward earning a special education teaching license.
Southern Arkansas University Tech (SAU-Tech) in Camden has developed a program of study for paraprofessionals interested in pursuing an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree.
To assist 25 paraprofessionals in the cost of tuition and books at the SAU-Tech AAT program, the ADE will pay up to $600 per semester, per paraprofessional, currently employed in an Arkansas school district and/or educational services cooperative to take necessary coursework. The ADE, through an agreement with SAU-Tech, will pay tuition for 25 paraprofessionals that are awarded this stipend.
If a paraprofessional is interested in pursuing this program, the paraprofessional’s principal and special education supervisor must recommend the paraprofessional and complete the attached application. The application must be submitted to Donna Broyles, 1401 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 450, Little Rock, AR 72201 or faxed to 501-682-4248, no later than November 21, 2007. Candidates will be notified by December 7, 2007, of the approval.
Priority will be given to eligible individuals currently employed by school districts and/or education services cooperative that agree to work in an Arkansas school district at the completion of coursework for a period of time not less than the same length of time tuition was paid through this program. In addition, paraprofessionals that are registered in the ADE paraprofessional registry and have completed at least the Core Training Module will have priority. Students must satisfactorily complete each course.
Classes for SAU-Tech spring semester begin January 17, 2008. Individuals will be responsible for registering for each course and completing all necessary SAU-Tech enrollment procedures. Awardees must begin courses in January for the spring semester.
In order to take the coursework, new students must complete an application at SAU-Tech at the following Web site: http://www.sautech.edu/register_online_entry.html. For assistance with the SAU-Tech online registration, applicants can contact Lisa Oden, Instructor, loden@sautech.edu or the local special education supervisor. Registration must be completed at SAU-Tech no later than January 17, 2008.