Teacher Incentives

Scholarships, Loans, Tuition Assistance Programs

National Board Certification

Program:
Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Early Childhood Special Education

Type:
Early Childhood Special Education Consortium

College/University:
Radford University and University of Lynchburg

Description:
This program, funded by the Virginia Department of Education, is designed to prepare qualified teachers to work with children birth to age five who have disabilities in Virginia. To achieve this goal, the program a) accepts qualified applicants to participate in the Consortium, b) provides them with state-approved coursework in four of the courses required for endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), and c) offer tuition support (through in-state tuition waivers) for endorsement coursework completed successfully.

Information:
https://www.lynchburg.edu/graduate/master-of-education-in-special-education/va-consortium-for-early-childhood-special-education/

Program Contacts:
Radford University
Dr. Elizabeth Altieri
ealtieri@radford.edu
540-831-5590

University of Lynchburg
Dr. Glenn Buck
buck@lynchburg.edu
434-544-8689

Program:
The Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Special Education Adapted Curriculum: Supporting Students with Severe Disabilities and Autism

Type:
Endorsement Program in Severe Disabilities

College/University:
George Mason University, James Madison University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, and Virginia Commonwealth University

Description:
The Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Severe Disabilities and Autism is comprised of six state approved teacher preparation programs in severe disabilities (SD), including George Mason University, James Madison University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. The consortium’s primary goal is to prepare teachers across the state to be highly skilled at working with learners with SD. The program is designed to increase the number of fully endorsed teachers by providing training to new full-time pre-service personnel and to accelerate the training for those already teaching on conditional licenses. The SD Consortium is supported by grants from the Virginia Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education. Every semester, the Consortium awards a limited number of tuition stipends to qualified applicants.

Information:
https://education.gmu.edu/special-education/adapted-curriculum-consortium/

Ending Date:
Funding Determined Annually

Program Contact:
Dr. Marci Kinas Jerome
mkinas@gmu.edu
703-993-3670

Program:
Teacher Preparation and Licensure Program for Hearing Impairments PreK-12

Type:
Endorsement Program in Hearing Impairments

College/University:
Radford University, Radford

Description:
As part of its continuing tradition of preparing educators, Radford University offers Virginia’s only program leading to licensure in Special Education – Hearing Impairment PreK-12. This program, available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, prepares professionals to serve children and youth who are deaf/hard of hearing. The program, a collaboration between RU’s Department of Special Education and Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, is funded through the Virginia Department of Education. It was created to alleviate a critical shortage of teachers for the deaf and hard of hearing. Participants in this program will have exposure to all communication/instructional approaches used with the deaf/hard of hearing so that methods can be employed based on student need, audiologic information, and family preference.

Ending Date:
Funding Determined Annually

Information:
https://www.radford.edu/content/cehd/home/teacher-ed/tuition-support.html

Program Contact:
Karen Stinson
kastinson@radford.edu
540-831-5549

Program:
Virginia Teacher Preparation Project for Visual Impairment (Distance Education)

Type:
Initial Licensure in VI Add-on Endorsement Program in Visual Impairments

College/University:
George Mason University, Old Dominion University, and Radford University

Description:
This initial licensure program prepares personnel to effectively teach students with visual impairments at the graduate and undergraduate (selected universities) levels. The program also offers the five VI courses required for the VI add-on endorsement for already licensed special education teachers. The program is offered via distance education and face-to-face summer institutes. Partial course tuition is paid by a grant from the Virginia Department of Education.

Information:
https://education.gmu.edu/special-education/vi-consortium/

Ending Date:
Funding Determined Annually

Program Contact:
Dr. Kimberly Avila
kavila@gmu .edu
703-993-5673

Program:
Troops to Teachers

Description:
Troops-to-Teachers provides Referral Assistance/Placement services and Financial Assistance to military personnel interested in beginning a second career in public education as a teacher. The Virginia office of Troops-to-Teachers office will help applicants identify teacher certification requirements, programs leading to certification, provide financial assistance for these programs and employment opportunities. To determine you eligibility visit the National Troops To Teachers Web Page at https://www.proudtoserveagain.com/.

For information on specific information on Troops To Teachers in Virginia visit https://troopstoteachersvirginia.wm.edu/.