The Para-to-Teacher Support Program provides financial assistance for paraprofessionals to earn a bachelor’s degree in special education. The program provides tuition support and book stipends for a minimum of two courses per semester to paraprofessionals who are currently working in Florida’s public schools assisting students with disabilities. Upon completion of the program the participant agrees to teach students with disabilities in a Florida public school for a minimum of two years for every academic year of tuition support received.

Funding is provided by the Personnel Development Partnerships grant through the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B. Applicants must sign a program/service obligation agreement upon admission to the program.

In order to be accepted into the Para-to-Teacher Support Program, the applicant must meet all of the following criteria:

• Have an Associate of Arts degree with an overall 2.5 GPA
• Have applied for admission to a Florida university or college
• Be currently employed as a paraprofessional in a Florida public school
• Be assisting students with disabilities
• Have a recommendation from a school district administrator
• Submit a complete application by the deadline
• Pass all portions of the General Knowledge Test by the end of the first year of admittance to the program

For additional information about how to apply for the Para to Teacher program and prerequisite courses, please contact:Rusty Gremillion, rgremillion@uwf.edu or (850) 473-7068.

Para to Teacher Application/Obligation(pdf)