ABINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT ABINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA. Reissued: 9/07, 8/26/08 See Also: Related Board Policy

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1 ABINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT ABINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA SUPERINTENDENT S ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE Section: Human Resources Effective Date: June 1977 REGARDING: Salary Class Advancement and Tuition Reimbursement for Abington Education Association Members Reissued: 9/07, 8/26/08 See Also: Related Board Policy 1. For Advancement from Salary Class I to Class II The number of credits required shall be as provided in the Abington Education Association (AEA) collective bargaining agreement. Although graduate level courses are preferred, undergraduate credit will be accepted for movement to Class II, as will Pennsylvania Department of Education approved in-service credits. 2. Advancement to Class III The employee must earn either a Master s Degree or a Master s Equivalency in accordance with the procedures governing the Equivalency established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 3. Advancement to Class IV and V Once an employee attains Class III status, movement to higher salary classes usually will be achieved through the attainment of graduate credits, the number as specified in the collective bargaining agreement. Movement beyond Class III will only be with an earned Master s Degree and not the Master s Equivalency, with the exception of those employees who obtained a Master s Equivalency or who were actively in the process of obtaining a Master s Equivalency by September 5, The Approval Process Courses should be clearly related to the employee s current assignment or improvement of professional competence. Exceptions may be granted by the Superintendent or designee for courses needed to obtain additional certification or that are relevant to programs in effect in the District. Undergraduate courses will be

2 approved only in unusual circumstances to meet a specific and defined need. If the course is to be reimbursed in accordance with Section 5 below, proof of admittance into an earned Master s Degree program in the form of a letter from the accredited college or university indicating acceptance is also required. Employees must complete the attached form, Request for Course Approval (Attachment I) and attach a course description, if available. The Request for Course Approval form must be submitted to the Principal/Supervisor and then to the Director of Human Resources in advance and no later than two (2) weeks prior to the beginning of the courses(s). A course that is not submitted within the two-week deadline may not be approved for salary advancement. If a Principal/Supervisor is not available, the form should be submitted immediately to the Director of Human Resources. All exceptions to the two-week advance approval process must have an attached justification. Following completion of the courses(s), the approval form together with transcript or grade card must be submitted to the Principal/Supervisor and then to the Director of Human Resources. If a course must be changed, a corrected approval must be submitted within ten (10) days after the course registration for the replacement course to receive approval. 5. The Tuition Reimbursement Process Temporary professional or professional employees will be reimbursed for graduate credit not to exceed an earned Master s Degree for amounts provided for in the AEA collective bargaining agreement. Reimbursement will only be made for graduate coursework taken at an accredited college or university in an earned Master s Degree program. The coursework must be directly related to the employee s current or future certification. A grade of A, B or Pass for the completed course is required. The procedure for reimbursement is as follows: a. Coursework must be approved in advance as stated in paragraphs 1 through 4 above. When submitting proof of a grade for final approval, a Request for Tuition Reimbursement form (Attachment II) with a copy of the paid tuition should also be submitted to the Office of Human Resources. b. Reimbursement shall be made not later than six (6) weeks after submission of the information requested in item 5a. above. In order to receive reimbursement approval the employee must affix his or her signature to the Request for Tuition Reimbursement form (Attachment II) agreeing to reimburse the District if the employee leaves employment within a period of twelve (12) months after the ending date of the pre-approved course or for the entire succeeding school year, whichever period is shorter.

3 6. Supervision of the Program In general, the Director of Human Resources will administer the program on behalf of the Superintendent. Questions and problems should be brought first to the Director of Human Resources. If a problem cannot be resolved satisfactorily there, it should then be brought to the attention of the Superintendent.

4 ABINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT Abington, Pennsylvania Attachment 1 REQUEST FOR COURSE APPROVAL NAME: Date: Present Class: Step: BUILDING: Grade/Subject: Tuition Reimbursement Eligible: ** Yes No Courses should be related to the employee s current assignment, a program in the District, an area of additional certification and/or improvement of professional competence. The course must be offered at the graduate level unless there is an exception, as outlined in Superintendent s Administrative Procedure, Salary Class Advancement and Tuition Reimbursement. SECTION I: Pre-approval of the course(s) taken must be obtained in advance by your Principal/Supervisor and the Office of Human Resources no later than two weeks prior to the beginning of the course(s). Failure to do so may result in a denial of credit. SECTION II: Following successful completion of the course(s), the staff member must obtain final approval for the course by submitting this form with a transcript or grade report to your Principal/Supervisor and then to the Office of Human Resources. **Tuition Reimbursement Eligibility is for temporary professional or professional employees (LTS-not eligible) who are in an earned Master s Degree Program. It is for graduate level coursework only, not to exceed an earned Master s. SECTION I: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL Attach course description Sponsoring Institution Course Title Course # # of Graduate Date Course Date Course Credits Begins Ends Principal/Supervisor s Director of Human Signature Date Resources Signature Date NOTE: Principal/Supervisor must complete back of form H.R. Reason if Denied: SECTION II: FINAL APPROVAL Attach transcript, copy of transcript or grade report and submit to Principal/Supervisor and Director of Human Resources. If eligible for tuition reimbursement, attach proof of paid invoice and tuition reimbursement form. Principal/Supervisor s Director of Human Signature Date Resources Signature Date Second course (if needed) Form No. 691 OVER

5 PARTIAL LIST OF FACTORS TO CONSIDER AS BASIS FOR COURSE APPROVAL/REJECTION Please respond to the following: Yes No 1. Relates to current program ( ) ( ) 2. Relates to new program ( ) ( ) 3. Relates to curricular need of staff member ( ) ( ) 4. Relates to management skills of staff member ( ) ( ) 5. Relates to instructional need of staff member ( ) ( ) 6. Relates to course requirements of a degree program ( ) ( ) 7. Relates to need for culturally enriching experience ( ) ( ) 8. Relates to identified deficit/weakness which must be given priority consideration ( ) ( ) 9. Meets generally accepted academic standards, e.g., required readings, papers, exam, etc. ( ) ( ) REASONS FOR APPROVAL/REJECTION Principal/Supervisor Signature: Date:

6 ABINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT Abington, Pennsylvania Attachment II A. To Be Completed by the Employee: REQUEST FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT Name: Date: _ Building: Position: Reimbursement will only be made for coursework taken at an accredited college or university in an earned Master s Degree, in accordance with District policy and Superintendent s Administrative Procedure, Salary Class Advancement and Tuition Reimbursement and the AEA collective bargaining agreement. Coursework must be at the graduate level and directly related to the employee s current or future certifications. If the District determines that a special need exists, pre-approval may be given for coursework other than in the field of the current or future certification. Reimbursement will be made for any graduate course which the college or university will accept for credit in its own advance degree program. Approval for the course must be in advance in accordance to Superintendent s Administrative Procedure, Salary Class Advancement and Tuition Reimbursement. Course: Grade Received: (Must be a grade of A, B, or Pass ) Please attach a copy of the grade report. Please submit the completed form to the Office of Human Resources for processing. This form is to be attached to the final course approval with a copy of the grade received and a copy of the paid tuition bill B. To Be Completed by the Office of Human Resources: Course Approval Process Complete: Grade Approved: Amount Eligible for Reimbursement: Human Resources: Date: C. To Be Completed by the Business Office: Amount of Tuition Reimbursed: Completed by: Date: Date: