COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 61

March 16, 2007

INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

 

FROM:

Billy K. Cannaday, Jr.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

 

SUBJECT:

20072008 Virginia Incentive Program for Speech‑Language Pathologists (VIP-SLP)

 

In a continuing effort to increase the pool of qualified speech-language pathologists in Virginia public schools, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has budgeted funds to encourage professionals working in the private sector and recent graduates to accept positions in Virginia public schools. The Virginia Incentive Program for Speech-Language Pathologists (VIP-SLP) pays up to $3,000 per year for up to three years for speech-language pathologists employed full-time in a Virginia public school division and $1,500 per year for those who work part-time.

 

This incentive program is available to speech-language pathologists who meet the following qualifications:

 

  • Have accepted a full-time or part-time contract as a speech-language pathologist with a Virginia public school division for the 2007-2008 academic year;

  • Graduated with a masters degree in communication sciences and disorders from an accredited in-state or out-of-state college or university;

  • Did not participate in a special education personnel preparation program funded by the VDOE;

  • Hold a valid five-year renewable license issued by the Virginia Board of Education or have completed an application for Virginia license with endorsement in speech-language disorders preK-12. The five-year renewable license with the speech-language disorders endorsement must be awarded before payments will be made;

  • Have not been employed by a Virginia school division during the past three years; and

  • Have submitted a completed VIP-SLP application to the VDOE immediately after accepting a contract with a Virginia public school division for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

The Virginia Incentive Program for Speech-Language Pathologists:

 

  • Provides funding for a maximum of three years per applicant. Speech-language pathologists must continue to be employed by a school division and must reapply each year;

  • Provides that the incentive amount will be made in two payments, each following the end of an academic semester;

 

  • Is dependent upon the availability of funds from the VDOE; and

  • Is not intended to replace or substitute for any other salary, incentive, or loan repayment program.

Following approval of the completed application, written notification of the status will be sent to the applicant and the school division special education administrator. Additionally, participants will be provided a W-9 form and two copies of the Request for Payment to submit to the Virginia Department of Education at the conclusion of each semester. Completion of the Request for Payment is the responsibility of the applicant and is due by February 1, 2008, for the first semester, and July 1, 2008, for the second semester. Payments are made directly to the applicant up to six weeks after receipt of the Request for Payment.

 

The funding period for this activity ends June 30, 2008. If the number of applications received exceeds funds available, financial incentives will be awarded on a first-come, first‑served basis, according to the date the completed application is received in the Division of Teacher Education and Licensure. Once employment has been secured, the speech-language pathologist must submit the completed application to the VDOE with verification by school division personnel. The attached 2006-2007 Virginia Incentive Program for Speech-Language Pathologists application can be faxed to Dr. Patricia Burgess at (804) 786-6759 or mailed to:

 

Dr. Patricia D. Burgess, Teacher Education Specialist

Virginia Department of Education

Division of Teacher Education and Licensure

P. O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120.

 

If you have questions regarding eligibility for the incentive program, please contact Dr. Burgess at (804) 225-2096 or e-mail: pat.burgess@doe.virginia.gov.

 

BKCJr/HDC/PSP/pdb

 

Attachment

 

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2007/inf061a.doc