The Career Ladder Training Program
Jan 12, 2002 11:32 AM
Get time off from work to pursue your education. Watch your salary grow as you progress. Attend college FREE. You can even be a college graduate and double your earning power by becoming a teacher.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? PARAS!
Any UFT paraprofessional who does not have a bachelor's degree at the time of employment may participate in the Career Training Program, a benefit fought for and won by the UFT. Paras who have a degree but who need additional credits to qualify for a teaching license may also be eligible. All you have to do is enroll in a participating community or senior college and take three to six credits per semester. The Board of Education will pay your tuition directly to the college.
In addition to free tuition, you'll get time off with pay to pursue your studies. Paras who are enrolled for five or more credits or semester hours are entitled to 21/2 hours a week of release time. And if you take six credits in the summer, you'll get a $240 stipend.
There's even a new Paraprofessional to Teacher Program that allows selected paras who need 12 to 24 credits to have a term off with pay to complete their bachelor's degrees; at present it is open only to paras seeking to become certified teachers in special education, bilingual education, mathematics, science and reading.
But the most immediate benefit of pursuing education is the increased pay. How much is the career ladder worth?
Here's the breakdown:
| College credits |
Base Pay Dec. 99 |
| 0 Teacher Aide | $15,692 |
| 6 Educational Assistant | $17,283 |
| 15 Educational Assistant, A-I | $17,525 |
| 30 Educational Assistant, A-II | $17,763 |
| 45 Educational Assistant, B | $18,439 |
| 60 + 2 years experience OR | |
| 90 credits + 1 year, Ed Associate | $21,087 |
| 90 + 2 years + matriculation, Ed Associate A | $22,809 |
| BA Teacher (salary after start as teacher) | $31,910 |
Rates after Nov. 15, 2000, are subject to negotiations in future UFT/Board of Education contracts.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION
PROCEDURE?
First, apply to a participating college of your choice. The application fee will be waived for paraprofessionals who have never attended college.
The participating colleges are:
|
Community Colleges Borough of Manhattan Bronx |
Senior Colleges Bernard M. Baruch Boricua Brooklyn |
AND THEN?
Just apply for the Career Training Program. Applications ("vouchers") are available at your school according to the following schedule:
March for the summer semester
June for the fall semester
October for the spring semester
Ask your school secretary or your district office for an application. Note the filing deadlines carefully. Completed applications should be returned to:
New York City Board of Education
Division of Personnel Career Training Program
65 Court Street, Room 504
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Attn: Vanessa Sullivan
