Transitional Kindergarten Professional Development Reimbursement Program Recent legislation established additional requirements for TK teachers and a professional development reimbursement program to support teacher enrollment in programs to meet the requirements. New TK Teacher Requirements SB 876 added additional requirements for TK teachers. Pursuant to EC 48000(g), a school district or charter school shall ensure that credentialed teachers who are first assigned to a TK classroom after July 1, 2015, have, by August 1, 2020, one of the following: 1. At least 24 units in early childhood education, or childhood development, or both. 2. As determined by the LEA employing the teacher, professional experience in a classroom setting with preschool age children that is comparable to the 24 units of education described in bullet 1. 3. A child development teacher permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Any current credentialed teacher who is or was assigned to teach TK, or a combination class of kindergarten and TK, on or before July 1, 2015, is grandfathered in to teach TK without having to meet additional requirements. Any credentialed teacher assigned to teach TK, or a combination class of kindergarten and TK, after July 1, 2015, will have until August 1, 2020, to meet the above-mentioned education requirements. In addition to addressing teacher requirements, EC 48000(f) states: It is the intent of the Legislature that transitional kindergarten curriculum be aligned to the California Preschool Learning Foundations developed by the department. TK Professional Development Reimbursement Program To support this new requirement, the legislature also provided funding through Local Child Care Planning Councils (LPC) for Professional Development Reimbursement Program. In Santa Clara County, this program is administered by the Santa Clara County Office of Education. Participants are eligible for reimbursements of up to $1500 per fiscal year (July 1st June 30th). For additional information on this reimbursement program in Santa Clara County, contact: Monica Bravo, Early Learning Services Specialist Local Child Care Planning Council/Early Learning Services Department Santa Clara County Office of Education (408) 453-3644 Monica_bravo@sccoe.org SCCOE Website: http://www.sccoe.org/depts/students/lpc/pages/tk-program.aspx CDE TK FAQ: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/em/kinderfaq.asp#contactinfo
Transitional Kindergarten Professional Development Reimbursement Program TKPR What is the TKPR? The TK Professional Development Reimbursement Program is a professional development program that provides reimbursement to qualified TK educators. Background: All credentialed teachers who are first assigned to a Transitional Kindergarten classroom after July 1, 2015, must have one of the following: 1. At least 24 units in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Child Development (CD), or both 2. As determined by the local educational agency (LEA) employing the teacher, professional experience in a classroom setting with preschool age children that is comparable to the 24 units of education 3. A child development teacher permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing Reimbursable costs: Tuition Registration fees Books/materials related to professional development or as noted in the course syllabus For more information: www.sccoe.org/depts/students/lpc/pages/tk-program.aspx Monica Bravo Early Learning Services Specialist Inclusion Collaborative, TKPR (408)453-6802 Fax: (408)453-3644 monica_bravo@sccoe.org 8/14/15
Are you a Transitional Kindergarten Teacher who is interested in learning how to best meet the needs of your students? Are you wondering how you might cover the costs of quality coursework and professional development? YOU may be eligible for reimbursement for: Tuition Registration fees Books and materials For more information and to apply go to: www.sccoe.org/depts/students/lpc/pages/default.aspx Click Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Professional Development Reimbursement Program under Featured Links Further Questions? Please contact Monica Bravo at monica_bravo@sccoe.org or 408-453-6802
Santa Clara County - TKPR Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Professional Development Reimbursement Program TKPR Reimbursement Application Eligibility & Priority Participants must currently be working in a School District Transitional Kindergarten or TK/K teaching position and work directly with students whose 5th birthdays are from September 2nd December 2nd of the current school year. First priority reimbursements go to new TK teachers hired after July 1, 2015. Second priority reimbursements go to all other TK teachers. Third priority reimbursements are available to California State Preschool Program (CSPP) teachers. Reimbursements for CSPP teachers are contingent upon the availability of funds after first and second priority reimbursements have been distributed (CSPP reimbursement schedule to be determined). All reimbursements for TK and CSPP teachers are for education expenses related to professional development, including the costs of unit-bearing coursework and fees related to CDE- approved professional development (http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/cddprofdevtrain.asp) in early childhood education/ child development. The reimbursement request is for the actual amount you have personally paid. Reimbursement Periods: Deadline to submit application: First Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Second Friday, January 15, 2016 Third Friday, April 15, 2016 Fourth Friday, July 15, 2016 Fifth Thursday, September 15, 2016 Sixth Friday, January 13, 2017 Seventh Friday, April 14, 2017 Eighth (and final) Thursday, June 15, 2017 Disclaimer Reimbursements are subject to change depending on the level of participation in the program. Participants are eligible for reimbursements of up to $1500 per fiscal year (July 1 st June 30 th ). Reimbursements will be on a first come first served basis. You will be notified at the time of your application if funding is available. The completed application must be received by the deadline of the current reimbursement period. Late applications will not be accepted. Email, mail, fax or hand-deliver completed applications to: Monica Bravo, Early Learning Services Specialist Santa Clara County Office of Education 1290 Ridder Park Drive, Mail Code 227 San Jose, CA 95131 Email: monica_bravo@sccoe.org Fax: (408) 453-3644 Revised: November 3, 2015 1
Santa Clara County - TKPR Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Professional Development Reimbursement Program Contact Information Last Name: First Name: MI: Home Mailing Address (this is the address where your reimbursement will be sent): Apt#: City: Zip Code: Home Phone: Work Phone: Cell: Work Email Address: Home Email Address: Employment School District: School Site: _ School Site Address: City: Zip Code: Phone: Position: Number of years with current employer: Verification of Employment (To be completed by employer) I certify that is currently employed as a Transitional Kindergarten or TK/K multiage teacher in Santa Clara County, working directly with students whose 5th birthdays are from September 2nd December 2nd of the current school year. I also certify that the coursework/workshops for which the teacher is requesting reimbursement was not previously paid for, nor reimbursed by this teacher s employer. Principal/Supervisor s Signature Principal/Supervisor s Printed Name Revised: November 3, 2015 2
Santa Clara County - TKPR Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Professional Development Reimbursement Program Professional Development Cost Estimate Please provide the following: Registration verification of professional development (PD) and the number of hours. Documentation of course fees and registration fees, as well as a cost estimate for books and materials (which will need to be listed in the course syllabus to be eligible for reimbursement) Unit-bearing early childhood education or child development coursework College/University: CD/ECE course number & title: City: Units: Beginning and end dates: Total reimbursement estimate: $ California Department of Education (CDE) approved early childhood education or child development professional development Organization providing PD: Title of PD: City: # of hours: Date(s) of PD: Total reimbursement estimate: $ By signing this document, I am certifying that all of the information provided above is true and correct. Your Signature Date Revised: November 3, 2015 3
Santa Clara County - TKPR Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Professional Development Reimbursement Program Professional Development Activities Please attach the following: Verification of professional development (PD) completion and the number of hours attended. PD must be CDE approved and approved by your school district to meet TK Teacher education requirements stipulated by SB876. Verification of the completion of unit-bearing coursework from a regionally accredited college with a grade of C or better. Copy of the course syllabi (if you are requesting reimbursement for books and materials) Itemized receipts for registration fees, required books and materials PLEASE COPY THIS PAGE IF NEEDED FOR MULTIPLE COURSES/PD ACTIVITIES Unit-bearing early childhood education or child development coursework College/University: CD/ECE course number & title: City: Units: Beginning and end dates: Total reimbursement requested: $ CDE and employer approved early childhood education or child development professional development Organization providing PD: Title of PD: City: # of hours: Date(s) of PD: Total reimbursement requested: $ By signing this document, I am certifying that all of the information provided above is true and correct. Your Signature Date Revised: November 3, 2015 4
TKPR FAQs Q: What are the receipt requirements? A: An itemized receipt consists of all items charged including tax, fee and/or service charges, the vendor name, and the date on the receipt. When requesting reimbursement, itemized receipts are required for all expenses. No reimbursements will be made without an itemized receipt. Q: What are the examples of verification of professional development (PD) completion and the number of hours attended? A: Professional development certificates with the title of training, date and number of hours listed. Q: What are the examples of verification of completion of unit-bearing coursework from a regionally accredited college with a grade of C or better? A: Unofficial transcripts with a regional accredited college, must include date(s) of course (semester, quarter, etc.) and letter grade. Courses must be submitted in the academic year it was taken. Q: When are reimbursement deadlines? A: Reimbursements will be distributed on a quarterly basis. Reimbursements must be postmarked and/or received by the deadlines below. Deadline to submit application: September 15, 2015 January 15, 2016 April 15, 2016 July 15, 2016 September 15, 2016 January 13, 2017 April 14, 2017 June 15, 2017 (Final) Q: How long does it take for me to receive my reimbursement after submitting? A: Reimbursements will take 3-4 weeks to be processed and sent out after each deadline. Q: What happens if my reimbursement application and documentation is incomplete? A: You will be notified if your application or documentation is incomplete.
Q: I was assigned to teach TK May 1, 2015, do I need to complete 24 Early Childhood Education (ECE) units? A: No, any current credentialed teacher who was assigned to teach TK on or before July 1, 2015, is grandfathered in to teach TK without having to meet additional requirements. Q: What if I am teaching in a TK/Kindergarten combination classroom? A: The same requirements apply to teachers assigned to TK/Kindergarten combination classrooms. Q: I completed some trainings in the spring of 2015. Can I get reimbursed for these? A: Yes, both unit bearing coursework and professional development expenses between January 1, 2015 and June 15, 2017 qualify for a reimbursement. Q: If I were to attend a professional development workshop to complete units for the California TK Stipend (CTKS) or for the required units, how would CEUs be calculated? A: According to the US Department of Education, continuing education units, or CEUs, are awarded by many education and training providers to signify successful completion of non-credit programs and courses intended to improve the knowledge and skills of working adults. A typical CEU represents approximately ten (10) contact hours of experience in a structured continuing education experience. CEUs are similar in theory to academic credits but differ in two important respects: 1. CEUs are not awarded for academic study and do not represent, or provide, academic credit; and 2. They may be awarded for a variety of experiences in different settings whose only common criterion is that they be measurable, supervised educational or training experiences with defined starting and ending points. The workshop provider would look for options to provide CEUs or credit-bearing units with an institution of higher education (IHE); and some workshop providers may not offer CEUs or college credit. If CEUs are available they would be offered during the registration process. Q: What if I pay for a class, registration, and course materials and the Transitional Kindergarten Professional Development Reimbursement Program runs out of funding? A: When you apply, you will submit an estimate of costs for the professional development that you will be participating in. You will receive a confirmation that the amount you estimate will be held for you and paid out upon receipt of all required back up documentation. Reminder: participants are eligible for reimbursements of up to $1500 per fiscal year (July 1 st June 30 th ).
Additional Resources Two-Year Colleges: Semester System COLLEGES IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY Gavilan College - www.gavilan.edu/child Mission College - http://www.missioncollege.org/depts/child/program.html San Jose City College - www.sjcc.edu/academics/departments/childdevelopment West Valley College - www.westvalley.edu/careers/childstudies/ Two-Year Colleges: Quarter System De Anza College - http://www.deanza.edu/cde/ Foothill College - http://www.foothill.edu/childdevelopment/ Four-Year Colleges Pacific Oaks College - http://www.pacificoaks.edu/schools_programs/school_of_education San Jose State University - www.sjsu.edu/chad Online courses may be available at any of these colleges. You may also contact the Early Learning Services Specialist if you wish to take courses at colleges not listed here PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES California Department of Education approved CARES Plus Component A trainings - http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/compatraining.asp California Early Childhood Online (CECO) - http://www.caearlychildhoodonline.org/ California Preschool Instructional Network - http://www.cpin.us/content/professional-development Child Development Training Consortium - http://childdevelopment.org/cs/cdtc/search/tp_e OTHER RESOURCES CDE's Transitional Kindergarten FAQ's - http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/em/kinderfaq.asp Transitional Kindergarten - http://www.tkcalifornia.org/ Center on the Social Emotional Foundations of Early Learning - http://www.cainclusion.org/teachingpyramid/ Child Development Permit Matrix - http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl797.pdf