Common use of Graduate Hour Credit Clause in Contracts

Graduate Hour Credit. Teachers who earn graduate hour credit will be advanced on the salary schedule provided the following requirements have been met: 9.10.1 The teacher shall present a request for course subject approval to the Superintendent in advance. 9.10.2 The Superintendent accepts or rejects the course based on its pertinence to the area of Education or as the course related to subject(s) taught. *Courses eligible for advancement include those taken toward an accepted Master’s Degree or additional endorsements in the areas of Reading, Curriculum and Instruction, Content-Area (Mathematics, Biology, etc), ESL, or Special Education. Master’s Degree programs must be approved in advance by the Superintendent. Teachers will be asked to submit an individual plan of study or sequence of coursework required for the degree, as well as an informational document describing how the degree or coursework will be used in the classroom. Teachers may also be asked for additional documentation to demonstrate rigor of courses and/or programs. Courses MUST apply directly to the teaching assignment of the employee. All courses required in an approved Master’s degree or endorsement program will be eligible for reimbursement and movement on the salary schedule. Self-paced Master’s degree programs that do not require forums, discussion boards, peer interaction, instructor-student interaction, etc. will not be eligible for movement/reimbursement. *At-large classes may be accepted for reimbursement if they are in an area of high need for the District. Areas of high need will be designated each year by the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology by February 1 for the next school year. Some examples of high need may be poverty, growth mindset, differentiated instruction, assessment, and personalized learning. No more than two at-large courses per school semester will be approved for reimbursement/movement on the salary schedule. Self-paced courses that do not require forums, discussion boards, peer interaction, instructor-student interaction, etc. will not be approved for movement/reimbursement. 9.10.3 Once advance approval for the course is given and the course is taken, the following conditions must be met prior to the teacher receiving the appropriate salary schedule placement: 1. All hours must be earned at an accredited university. 2. A copy of a grade card or a transcript from that university demonstrating the teacher earned a grade of “B” or better must be on file in the District's Administrative Office prior to the beginning of the appropriate school year. 9.10.4 Teachers shall advance to the appropriate earned step on the salary schedule at the beginning of the academic year. 9.10.5 Teachers will be allowed to take on-line graduate level courses for master’s degree programs. Each course is subject to the approval of the Superintendent. 9.10.6 Unless part of a scheduled cohort program, no more than two (2) courses will be approved for movement/reimbursement per school semester, and no more than twenty-one (21) semester hours will be accepted per school year.

Graduate Hour Credit. Teachers who earn graduate hour credit will be advanced on the salary schedule provided the following requirements have been met: 9.10.1 The teacher shall present a request for course subject approval to the Superintendent in advance. 9.10.2 The Superintendent accepts or rejects the course based on its pertinence to the area of Education or as the course related to subject(s) taught. *Courses eligible for advancement include those taken toward an accepted Master’s Degree or additional endorsements licensure in the areas of Reading, Curriculum and Instruction, Content-Area (Mathematics, Biology, etc), ESL, or Special Education. Master’s Degree programs must be approved in advance by the Superintendent. Teachers will be asked to submit an individual plan of study or sequence of coursework required for the degree, as well as an informational document describing how the degree or coursework will be used in the classroom. Teachers may also be asked for additional documentation to demonstrate rigor of courses and/or programs. Not all courses in a degree program will necessarily be eligible. Courses MUST apply directly to the teaching assignment of the employee. All courses required in an approved Master’s degree or endorsement program will be eligible for reimbursement and movement on the salary schedule. Self-paced Master’s degree programs that do not require forums, discussion boards, peer interaction, instructor-student interaction, etc. will not be eligible for movement/reimbursement. *At-large classes may be accepted for reimbursement if they are in an area of high need for the District. Areas of high need will be designated each year by the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology by February 1 for the next school year. Some examples of high need may be poverty, growth mindset, differentiated instruction, assessment, and personalized learning. No more than two at-large courses per school semester will be approved for reimbursement/movement on the salary schedule. Self-paced courses that do not require forums, discussion boards, peer interaction, instructor-student interaction, etc. will not be approved for movement/reimbursement. 9.10.3 Once advance approval for the course is given and the course is taken, the following conditions must be met prior to the teacher receiving the appropriate salary schedule placement: 1. All hours must be earned at an accredited university. 2. A copy of a grade card or a transcript from that university demonstrating the teacher earned a grade of “B” or better must be on file in the District's Administrative Office prior to the beginning of the appropriate school year. 9.10.4 Teachers shall advance to the appropriate earned step on the salary schedule at the beginning of the academic year. 9.10.5 No more than a total of six - (6) semester hours credit will be granted to any teacher for successful completion of all courses taken by viewing video tape(s). 9.10.6 Teachers will be allowed to take up to fifteen (15) hours of on-line graduate level courses for to be applied toward master’s degree programs. Each The Superintendent shall have the discretion to approve additional on-line course is hours applicable to master’s degree programs. Those with master’s degrees may not be limited in on-line course hours, each course subject to the approval of the Superintendent. 9.10.6 Unless part of a scheduled cohort program, no more than two (2) courses will be approved for movement/reimbursement per school semester, and no more than twenty-one (21) semester hours will be accepted per school year.