GROW YOUR OWN TEACHER WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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1 GROW YOUR OWN TEACHER WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOLS PURPOSE The purpose of the Grown Your Own Teacher (GYOT) program is to address the nationwide, chronic teacher shortage by developing a continuous pipeline of quality teachers who share the culture, language, and community of Wichita Public School students. FUNDING, ELIGIBILITY, AND PARTICIPATION The GYOT program is district funded. It is designed to provide financial assistance in the form of forgivable loans to outstanding Wichita Public Schools permanent, classified employees to encourage and enable them to pursue full-time teaching careers in a hard to fill certified position. Hard to Fill Positions Positions eligible for this program must be determined by Human Resources as hard to fill (at the time of GYOT acceptance) certified positions using the following criteria: o How critical the position is to the districts operation and mission o The success of recent efforts to recruit candidates and retain employees in like positions o The availability in the labor market of well-qualified candidates for employment o Recent turnover in similar positions o Special qualifications needed for the position o Other unique factors that demonstrate difficulty in filling the position To qualify, participants must meet the following: 3 consecutive years of consistent employment with Wichita Public Schools in a permanent, benefitted position and is in good standing, as determined by the Chief Human Resources Officer Minimum of 60 transferable college credit hours completed, with a grade point average of 2.7 or better TEACHING AND PROGRAM OBLIGATION Based on the signed Statement of Commitment and Intent to teach, each participant is obligated to begin teaching full-time, in his/her area of certification, in Wichita Public Schools the first semester immediately following graduation and continuing for a period of three consecutive years. Participants involved in the GYOT program for less than four years will have a pro-rated teaching obligation. The participant shall reimburse Wichita Public Schools the entire amount of the loan received by the GYOT program if the participant for any reason does not meet the criteria established by the GYOT program, complete the requirements for a degree in education, fails to obtain teacher certification, or if the participant fails to provide a minimum of 3 complete consecutive years of teaching obligation following graduation; provided, however, one semester tuition and books paid for by the GYOT program shall be forgiven for each year of teaching service completed up to the year or time such services are not provided. Grow Your Own Teacher Program Rev January 2, 2018 Page 1of 7

2 Teaching Obligation Broken Down by Semester(s) Paid Semesters Paid Teaching Obligation 1-3 semesters 3 years 4 semesters 4 years 5 semesters 5 years 6 semesters 6 years Grow Your Own Teacher Program APPLICATION PROCESS WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOLS PLAN OF SUPPORT FOR CERTIFYING PERMANENT CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES INTO HARD TO FILL CERTIFIED POSITIONS To meet the critical demand for teachers, a plan to provide a forgivable loan via a Grow Your Own Teacher program to employees of Unified School District No. 259 (the District ) who agree to become certified and/or licensed as a teacher in a hard to fill area has been developed. It focuses on individuals with at least 60 transferable college credit hours who will pursue a degree in education and licensure in a hard to fill area, and have experience employed with the District. Individuals with at least sixty (60) transferable college credit hours must meet and comply with the following: 1. To submit a USD 259 application via the Applicant Tracking system and the Grow Your Own Teacher Funding Agreement by the agreed upon date: a. To be eligible for funding in the fall semester, a completed application and a course of study must be submitted on/before June 1 in the school year funding is requested. b. To be eligible for funding in the spring semester, a completed application and a course of study must be submitted on/before December 1 in the school year funding is requested. c. To be eligible for funding in the summer semester, a completed application and a course of study must be submitted on/before April 15 in the school year funding is requested. [NOTE: Applications received after the designated dates above will be considered in the order received, if funds are available.] 2. To seek and gain acceptance as an undergraduate student in a Kansas accredited institute of higher education if this has not already been accomplished. a. Grow Your Own Teacher funding is available only for those courses required to obtain the degree and license for which the person is pursuing. b. Any courses outside of the required course of study must receive prior written approval from the Chief Human Resources Officer to receive funding. Grow Your Own Teacher Program Rev January 2, 2018 Page 2of 7

3 3. File a plan of study approved by the institute of Kansas higher education to meet full certification in the hard to fill area with such institution with Human Resources each year. A record of completed courses and the updated enrollment schedule must be submitted each year so that Grow Your Own Teacher funds can be appropriately designated. a. The Grow Your Own Teacher funding under this contract is available for approved students who stay continuously enrolled and accrue 6 or more credits per year from their approved plan of study not to exceed 3 calendar years from the date funding was initially approved. Anyone who does not stay continuously enrolled or does not complete the plan of study coursework within 3 years would be eligible to submit an updated plan of study and reapply for Grow Your Own Teacher funding. An alternative to this timeline must be requested by the recipient in advance and approved in writing by the Chief Human Resources Officer. 4. To remain employed in a permanent, benefitted position in good standing at all times with USD 259 during the Program. 5. To be recommended for a teaching-contract in a hard to fill area upon completion of the Education degree, student teaching, and licensure program. 6. To remain employed by USD 259 at all times until the commitment to provide hard to fill services as set forth in the Grow Your Own Teacher Agreement has been complied with or repay the total amount paid by Unified School District No. 259 for tuition and books at zero interest in one lump sum payment. a. All recipients of Grow Your Own Teacher funding are assigned to positions that were considered hard to fill at the time funding was allocated. Therefore, the loan repayment obligation of these funds is specific to the discipline or position the person was assigned while receiving Grow Your Own Teacher funding. This obligation is waived if the employee is moved by the district, applies for but is not selected for a vacancy within the discipline, or if there is no position available within the discipline at the time the person completes their coursework. 7. Meet criteria established by representatives from Human Resources, Student Support Services (applicable for Special Education positions), and building administration. In addition, to be eligible and continue to be eligible for the program an applicant must: a. Have and maintain a GPA of 2.7 or better from college or university b. Demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills c. Sign a Commitment and Statement of Intent (Grow Your Own Teacher Agreement) to provide hard to fill services for one school year for each semester the District pays for tuition in the District or to repay the entire amount received, in the event the applicant fails to meet the conditions set forth of the period of college training or pro-rated amount of the agreed upon service time d. Complete resume which includes experiences working with student instruction in hard to fill areas e. Agree to complete the required certification within 6 consecutive semesters (excluding summer semesters) f. Submit unofficial transcripts following each semester or summer session to verify the GPA/Plan of Study requirements noted above. Grow Your Own Teacher Program Rev January 2, 2018 Page 3of 7

4 8. Accept an assignment to provide hard to fill services in the District for the period of time specified in the Grow Your Own Teacher Agreement. (Upon completion of certification, one school year for each semester the District pays for tuition.) 9. The employee shall reimburse USD % of the total amount paid by the District is the employee for any reason does not complete their plan of study on file with the Grow Your Own Teacher Committee within the time period set in the Grow Your Own Teacher Agreement of if the Employee, upon completing the plan, fails to provide the hard to fill services to USD 259 for the time specified in the Grow Your Own Teacher Agreement; provided, however, one semester tuition and books paid for by USD 259 shall be forgiven for each school year hard to fill services are provided up to the year or time such services are not provided. COMMITMENT BY THE DISTRICT 1. Compensate the comptroller s office of the approved institution of higher learning for tuition and fees, if agreement has been made with the institution, or reimburse the District s Human Resources GYOT representative upon receiving receipts for books and fees. 2. Reimbursement for a full-time employee enrolled in this program for tuition specific to the approved courses in the plan of study, and up to $ per semester for fees and/or books, associated with the course work, upon submission of the necessary sales receipts subject to such funds being budgeted for at the time such reimbursement is being sought. Incidental expenses such as parking passes or late fees are not covered by the program. 3. Reimburse a half-time employee enrolled in this program for one-half of all tuition and books associated with the course work, upon submission of the necessary sales receipts provided, however, that such funds have been budgeted for at the time such reimbursement is sought. Timely payment will be made after submission of the necessary documentation to the Human Resources personnel. 4. The amount paid by USD 259 for tuition, fees, and expenses will be 100% forgiven at such time as the employee completes the commitment to provide hard to fill services for the years specified in the Grow Your Own Teacher Agreement. In the case of out-of-state or private school tuition, reimbursement will be at the rate for an in-state institution only [approximately $300.00/credit hour based on data]. The total annual funding available per student is not to exceed $3, without prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer. APPLICATION PROCEDURE 1) Complete online Grow Your Own Teacher application with USD 259, including the return of at least two professional references: a. One of which must be from your current building administrator b. Another from a current colleague 2) Be accepted into education/licensure program at a university and prepare a plan of study. 3) Respond promptly to any application questions generated by Human Resources, administrative staff, and/or the building principal. Grow Your Own Teacher Program Rev January 2, 2018 Page 4of 7

5 4) Applicants will not be considered until all required documents are on file in the Human Resources office. APPLICANTS PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WITH THE APPLICATION: Signed Agreement form Plan of Study University transcript *Additional documentation may be requested Grow Your Own Teacher Program Rev January 2, 2018 Page 5of 7

6 WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOLS Alvin E. Morris Administrative Center 903 S Edgemoor Wichita, Kansas SUPPORT FOR CERTIFICATION OF PERMANENT CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES INTO HARD TO FILL CERTIFIED POSITIONS GROW YOUR OWN TEACHER FUNDING AGREEMENT I,, the undersigned, a student at, understand that I am being recommended for Grow Your Own Teacher funding by the building administrator and the Chief Human Resources Officer with input from the Superintendent. I understand that if I am approved for Grow Your Own Teacher funding to obtain certification in the area of, that Unified School District No. 259, in order to promote my career as a teacher, will pursuant to terms and conditions set forth below pay costs of tuition and fees not to exceed 6 consecutive semesters and up to $200 per semester for required test(s) for university training at the institution of higher education mentioned above toward teacher licensure. In consideration for receiving Grow Your Own Teacher funding if I am approved for such I agree as follows: 1. To comply with the requirements, terms and conditions set forth in the Grow Your Own Teacher Program that is attached hereto as Agreement and to comply with any additional requirements, terms and conditions if any, of the Grow Your Own Teacher Committee that are attached under the Application. Agreement and Application combined are hereafter referred to as the Program. 2. To enroll in university courses leading towards certification or licensure to teach in a hard to fill position in Unified School District No. 259 while attending classes as appropriate. 3. To obtain a plan of study from the assigned university advisor and follow this plan of study. I understand that any deviation from this plan of study must have both approval of the university advisor and USD After obtaining full licensure, I will continue to teach in a hard to fill position in Unified School District No. 259 for (one extra school year for every semester the school district paid tuition) in a high need area as defined by Human Resources. To repay the total amount paid by Unified School District No. 259 for tuition and books at zero interest in one total lump sum payment that shall be immediately due if and when such becomes due and payable under requirements, conditions, and terms set forth in Agreement and Application. I understand that due to budget constraints imposed by state law that the Unified School District No. 259 cannot obligate itself to pay for tuition and books beyond its current budget year and therefore I understand and agree that Unified School District No. 259 may in any upcoming budget year discontinue paying my tuition and books under its Grow Your Own Teacher program. It is my understanding in this regard that I will not be required to repay the amount paid for tuition and books for me by Unified School District No. 259, if the District discontinues funding the Grow Your Own Teacher program in an upcoming budget year prior to the time I have completed my plan of study that is on file at the above mentioned institute of higher learning, assuming that at such time I am otherwise in full compliance with the Program requirements, conditions, and terms. Grow Your Own Teacher Program Rev January 2, 2018 Page 6of 7

7 Lastly, I am agreeing to participate in the Grow Your Own Teacher program with the full understanding that my pursuit of the plan of study and my serving as a teacher after completing my plan of study is for the mutual benefit of Unified School District No. 259 and myself. Wichita Public Schools Grow Your Own Teacher Funding AGREEMENT This application was submitted on the day of, 20. Signature of Applicant The application was reviewed on the day of, 20, and recommended for funding: YES NO [NOTE: recommended for funding does not guarantee that funds will be available] Signature of Chief Human Resources Officer The applicant was notified of available funding on the day of, 20 by: Signature of Human Resources staff Grow Your Own Teacher Program Rev January 2, 2018 Page 7of 7