W. Va. Code R. § 126-136-23

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 126-136-23 - [Effective until 1/11/2025] Fee Reimbursements and Salary Supplements

23.1. Tuition Reimbursement for Certificate Renewal or Shortage Areas.

23.1.a. As stated in W. Va. Code § 18A-3-3a, an educator applying for tuition reimbursement must meet the following criteria: holds either a valid West Virginia Teaching, Student Support, or Administrative Certificate, or holds one of these Professional Certificates and a First Class Permit for full-time employment seeking an additional endorsement in a shortage area, and either resides in the state or is employed regularly for instructional purposes in a public school in the state; or is seeking certification renewal, and has a continuing contract with a county board of education or eligible public school employment. Reimbursement is dependent upon the amount of legislative funding granted.

23.1.b. Limitations. Reimbursement is limited to the cost of tuition, registration, and other required fees only for appropriate college/university coursework used for certificate renewal or for coursework in a verified shortage area. Reimbursement for an educator who attends an out-of-state IHE as described in W. Va. Code § 18A-3-3a(d)(2), or a private IHE may not exceed the amount of the highest corresponding tuition charged at a West Virginia state-supported IHE. Reimbursement for coursework completed towards certification renewal or for coursework completed in a shortage area is limited to 15 semester hours of courses for any educator. The reimbursement for coursework completed in an area of critical shortage has been legislatively prioritized, taking precedent before renewal coursework as described in W. Va. Code § 18A-3-3a(f). For reimbursement of shortage area coursework, the shortage area must be verified by the county of employment. The educator must have completed the appropriate IHE coursework with a minimum 3.00 GPA.

23.1.c. Reimbursement Schedule. A request for tuition reimbursement must be received by the WVDE between July 1 and June 15 of each fiscal year for coursework completed during that fiscal year. Tuition reimbursement is provided first-come, first-served, for limited funds. Coursework completed prior to the July 1 start of a fiscal year will not be considered for state tuition reimbursement.

23.1.d. Third-Party Reimbursement. An educator who receives a tuition and/or fee waiver shall not be entitled to reimbursement by the WVDE for the tuition/fees covered by the subsidy. Only expenses incurred personally by the educator shall be reimbursable.

23.2. Reimbursement for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification.

23.2.a. The purpose of this reimbursement is to recognize and reward public school classroom teachers, as defined in W. Va. Code § 18A-1-1, who achieve certification through the NBPTS, and to provide financial assistance to those classroom teachers who participate in this rigorous program.

23.2.b. Limitations. The number of teachers reimbursed in any fiscal year is dependent upon the legislative funding amount granted for that fiscal year.

23.2.c. Third-Party Reimbursement. A classroom teacher who receives a subsidy from the NBPTS or any other third-party payer shall not be entitled to reimbursement by the WVDE for those fees covered by the subsidy. Only expenses incurred personally by the candidate shall be reimbursable.

23.2.d. Reimbursement Schedule. For initial NBPTS board certification, a classroom teacher may be reimbursed only once for enrollment in and once for completion of the NBPTS Certification Program. Program completion shall be defined as the completion of four components as verified by the NBPTS. Program completion must occur within the general timeframe allowable by the NBPTS unless an extension for program completion is granted by the NBPTS. For NBPTS board certification Maintenance of Certification (MOC), each teacher who successfully maintains the NBPTS certification shall be reimbursed for the NBPTS MOC fees, upon application to the WVDE.

23.2.e. Procedures and processes for NBPTS Fee Reimbursement. Fee reimbursements are processed in the following stages in accordance with the provisions of W. Va. Code § 18A-4-2a(d): one-half of the program fee shall be paid for reimbursement once to each teacher who enrolls in the program for NBPTS certification and submits an application with verification of enrollment, payment for two components, and registration fee; the remaining one-half of the program fee shall be paid for reimbursement once to each teacher who submits an application verifying payment for the final two components, registration fee, and submission of all four components sent to the NBPTS for final scoring; Additionally, MOC fee reimbursement is available for each successful MOC as verified by the NBPTS. A request for fee reimbursement must be received by the WVDE no later than June 15 of any fiscal year.

23.2.f. Extra expenses reimbursement. A classroom teacher who achieves NBPTS Certification may request reimbursement of actual expenses incurred for initial National Board Certification only, for non-durable goods as listed under federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines, up to a maximum of $600.00, by submitting the appropriate application to the WVDE with documentation, which includes: NBPTS board certification, as verified by the NBPTS; original receipts for the expenses incurred; and other documentation as required. Any subsidy funding received by the teacher for retake fees is considered as partial or complete payment of the $600.00 amount allowable for actual expenses incurred.

23.2.g. NBPTS Salary Supplement. A classroom teacher who achieves NBPTS Certification shall be granted an annual salary supplement of $3,500.00 for the life of the certificate, up to five years for any one certificate, providing that the appropriate application is submitted to the WVDE along with the documentation that the teacher has achieved NBPTS Certification and is employed as a public school classroom teacher. The payment shall be in addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable state minimum salary schedule, shall be paid in equal monthly installments, and shall be considered a part of the state minimum salaries for teachers. A classroom teacher who successfully completes NBPTS MOC Certification must re-apply to the state for a salary supplement renewal. The state salary supplement expires at the same time the NBPTS board certification expires.

23.2.h. NBPTS Certificate Recognition without Salary Supplement. An individual who has achieved NBPTS certification but is not currently employed as a classroom teacher in West Virginia public schools may request recognition of the NBPTS certification with a valid West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate. The NBPTS salary supplement is only allowable and receivable as an employed and fully certified West Virginia public school classroom teacher.

23.3. Reimbursement and Salary Supplement for Professional Personnel with Recognized National Certification in Speech Language Pathology, Counseling, School Psychology, and School Nursing General Criteria.

23.3.a. The purpose of this section is to recognize and reward certain professional personnel, as defined in W. Va. Code § 18A-1-1, who hold advanced certification by the ASHA, the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling (WVBEC), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), or the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN), and who meet other eligibility criteria as defined in W. Va. Code § 18A-4-2b by providing a statewide salary supplement, and reimbursement of program fees and actual extra expenses incurred toward attainment of the initial advanced certification for these professional personnel employed in the public schools as SLPs, counselors, school psychologists or school nurses.

23.3.b. Limitations for Salary Supplement. The number of SLPs, counselors, school psychologists, or school nurses eligible for an annual salary supplement shall be limited to no more than 115 combined total for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, with an additional 115 allowable each fiscal year thereafter. The eligible professional personnel shall be determined each fiscal year by ranking: verification of the length of time that advanced certification has been held, the length of time that West Virginia certification in the endorsement area has been held, and the total months of public school work experience completed in the endorsement area.

23.3.c. Limitations for Reimbursement. The number of SLPs, counselors, school psychologists, or school nurses eligible, upon attainment of the advanced certification, for reimbursement of the remainder of the application program fee plus other expenses actually incurred toward attainment of the certification shall be limited to no more than 115 combined total for the first fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, with an additional 115 allowable each fiscal year thereafter. The eligible professional personnel eligible for reimbursement shall be determined each fiscal year by ranking and verification as in section 23.3.b. The total number of professional personnel reimbursed in any fiscal year is dependent upon the legislative funding granted for that fiscal year but shall not exceed 115 in any fiscal year. Recognition of only one advanced certification shall be allowed for any individual for the purpose of obtaining the fee reimbursement and/or the salary supplement.

23.3.d. Reimbursement and Salary Supplement Schedule. Beginning July 1, 2008, 115 professional personnel as defined in W. Va. Code § 18A-1-1 who hold advanced certification by ASHA, NBCC, WVBEC, NASP, or NBCSN, and who are employed in the West Virginia public schools, shall be granted an annual salary supplement of $2,500.00 for the life of the advanced certification, or for 10 years for any one certification, whichever first expires, with an additional 115 professional personnel allowable each fiscal year thereafter. Additionally, beginning July 1, 2008, 115 professional personnel as defined in W. Va. Code § 18A-1-1 are eligible for reimbursement of one-half of the fee for advanced certification upon enrollment, and upon attainment of the advanced certification are eligible for reimbursement of the remaining one-half of the fee, plus other expenses actually incurred which are not to exceed $600.00 maximum, toward attainment of the advanced certification, with reimbursement for an additional 115 professional personnel allowable each fiscal year thereafter.

23.3.e. Deadlines. Applications will be accepted from January 1 through September 15 each year for processing for SLPs, counselors, school psychologists and school nurses. Applications received after the annual September 15 deadline through December 31 will be denied for reimbursement and salary supplement. Beginning January 1 of each year, applications received by the September 15 deadline for that year will be reviewed and ranked according to the criteria in this section to identify the 115 additional applications eligible for payment during that year. Only candidates who are employed in West Virginia public schools as an SLP, counselor, school psychologist, or school nurse are eligible for this reimbursement or salary supplement.

23.3.f. Procedures for requesting National Certification Reimbursements. Eligible professional personnel who enroll in or complete the initial ASHA, NBCC, WVBEC, NASP, or NBCSN certification may submit a request for reimbursement of one-half of the program fee for enrollment and one-half of the fee for completion, and up to a maximum of $600.00 for extra expenses incurred for the initial certification, as allowable under federal IRS guidelines, by submitting the appropriate application to the WVDE with documentation, which includes: verification of payment of the advanced certification program fee(s); and verification that the candidate is enrolled in or has completed the advanced certification process; and a copy of the ASHA, NBCC, WVBEC, NASP, or NBCSN advanced certificate and other official documentation, as needed, verifying the issuance and expiration dates of the advanced certification with receipts for allowable expenses incurred, if applying for completion fees or extra expenses and verification of the criteria listed in section 23; and other documentation as required.

23.3.g. Procedures for requesting National Certification Salary Supplements. Eligible professional personnel who complete advanced ASHA, NBCC, WVBEC, NASP, or NBCSN certification may submit a request for the annual salary supplement by submitting the appropriate application to the WVDE with documentation, which includes: a copy of the ASHA, NBCC, WVBEC, NASP, or NBCSN advanced certificate and other official documentation, as needed, verifying the issuance and expiration dates of the advanced certification; verification of the criteria listed in section 23; and verification of current employment in the West Virginia public schools as a SLP, counselor, school psychologist, or school nurse. A professional who successfully completes national certification must re-apply to the state for a salary supplement renewal. The state salary supplement expires at the same time the national certification expires.

W. Va. Code R. § 126-136-23