Project SHARE:
Supporting Highly-qualified And Responsive Educators

What is the Project SHARE?
In October 2005 UTPB was awarded a four year grant by the U. S. Department of Education to prepare highly qualified teachers to work with students with disabilities in linguistically and diverse settings. Students who receive financial support through this program will experience an intensive preparation program in teacher education resulting in licensure in Special Education and supplemental licensure in English as a Second Language.

Who is eligible for the grant?
Students or individuals enrolled (or enrolling) at UTPB wishing to obtain teacher certification in Special Education are eligible to apply for Project SHARE. Students applying for this grant must be residents of the state of Texas and have legal residency or U. S. citizenship. Candidates for special education certification may include junior, senior, or post baccalaureate students. Individuals with prior teaching certification outside of special education are eligible as well as current students seeking an additional certification in a content specific area.

How do I apply?
Applications are available in the Mesa Building Teacher Certification Office (room 3215), the Project Director's Office (room 3220) or online through the UTPB homepage Website Quick Links.

Are references required?
Yes, you will need to have 3 professional and or personal references. Please use the online reference-form . This should be completed and returned by April 30th for summer enrollment and July 15th for Fall enrollment.

How does the selection process work?
Individuals selected for grant support will be determined on a quantitative and qualitative basis which is equally weighted across 5 areas. These five areas include: GPA for the past 3 years, References, Interviews, Written Responses, and THEA/TASP/ETC. scores required for acceptance into teacher certification.

If selected for support, what will I receive?
The grant will pay full tuition, including fees and required textbooks. If you are receiving federal grant money (excluding loans), that amount will be applied to tuition and fees before the SHARE grant scholarship. In addition the grant will provide travel and other related expenses to annual state or national conferences and pay tuition and travel expenses for the University Summer Exchange Program in Chihuahua , Mexico . Recipients will be supported up to a maximum of 72 semester hours.

What is expected of me as a recipient of Project SHARE?
On a full-time or full-time equivalent basis and for a period of at least two years for every academic year for which assistance is received the recipient must be employed in a position in which the majority of the persons to whom the recipient provides services receive special education, related services, or early intervention service. If this requirement is not fulfilled according to the Service Obligation requirements( subject to provisions regarding a deferral or exception) recipients will be required to repay any financial support received, plus interest, in an amount proportional to the service obligation. Funding support will end December 29, 2009 but may be extended if funds are remaining.

In addition to the Service Obligation, recipients are required to meet the following criteria in order to continue support from one year to the next:

• Participate in community mentoring and service projects throughout the year.
• Maintain the minimum GPA and other requirements for teacher certification.
• Maintain the minimum GPA and other requirements for the major and minor fields.
• Enroll in a minimum of 12 semester hours each long semester (exceptions include student teaching and other applicable situations).

What if I am not selected?
You are highly encouraged to keep your application on file as the grant will continually seek to support the maximum number of students possible subject to the availability of funds remaining for each of the four years.

Web Master Updated on 10/03/2007