Fee subsidy application available for National Board candidates

The South Dakota Department of Education will award funds through the Candidate Subsidy Program to teachers who pay the registration fee for National Board Certification. The application will be available online Oct. 1 at www.state.sd.us/deca/Secretary.

Subsidies of $500 to $1,000 will be awarded to eligible National Board Certification candidates. Eligible candidates must:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree
• Hold a current South Dakota teaching certificate
• Have taught for a minimum of three years, and
• Have paid the initial $300 nonrefundable application fee to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

The Candidate Subsidy Program gives each state federal funds to award to teachers for partial payment of their candidate fees. Funds for the subsidy program are provided by the U.S. Congress through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Teachers who meet the eligibility requirements must return their application to the Department of Education by Friday, Oct. 29, 5 p.m. (CST).

Questions regarding the process can be directed to Roxie Thielen at the Department of Education, (605) 773-5669 or roxie.thielen@state.sd.us.