State offers financial aid for educational aides
by Kristin Whitney, reporter

     Only a certain kind of person can handle being a teacher, and the state of Texas is rewarding those people with a college tuition and partial fee exemption program.

     The program is designed for college students who have at least two years’ experience working as an educational aide in a public school in Texas and who are attending a public institution of higher education in Texas to become certified as a teacher.

     The purpose of the Educational Aide Exemption Program is to encourage certain educational aides to complete full teacher certification by providing need-based tuition and mandatory fee exemptions at public Texas colleges and universities.

     Passed by the 75th legislature, the program exempts eligible students from the payment of tuition and fees (other than class or laboratory) per year of eligibility. To be considered for the exemption, a student must show financial need, be a resident of Texas and be certified as an educational aide by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification.

     In addition, the person should have at least two school years’ experience as an aide, be employed as an aide working directly with students and be enrolled in classes leading to teacher certification along with meeting the academic progress requirements of his or her college’s financial aid office.

     Because there is not enough money to give awards to all students who qualify, preference will be given to applicants with high financial need, according to the Texas Higher Education Board.

     The maximum award amount is the lesser of either the students’ financial need or their tuition.

     An aide must have two years experience before applying for the exemption. This requirement shows an individual’s commitment to the profession.

     Recipients need to re-apply every year, and the basis for the spring semester exemption is the good academic standing held the previous semester.

     Applications should be filed with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before the end of the term in which the aide would receive the exemption.

     After the Board has chosen the winners of the exemptions, the school the aide attends has to submit a reimbursement request form.

     The Board then requests the funds and sends them directly to the school.

     For an application, contact the employing school district, the college financial aid office or the Texas Higher Education Board at 1-800-242-3062 ext. 6387.