COPE

Program Description

The Personnel Development Partnership supports a paraprofessional to teacher program for practicing exceptional student education assistants and paraprofessionals holding an Associates degree or accepted into a College of Education as a first semester junior.

Paraprofessionals and Teacher Assistants are eligible for COPE tuition sponsorship, based on availability of grant funding and critical shortage priorities. All applicants must be currently working in an Exceptional Student Education classroom or teaching an ESE population in Collier, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry, or Glades Counties. COPE  applicants must provide documentation of acceptance into a College of Education as a first semester junior and the support of their district or school administrator. In addition, COPE applicants must complete application materials for the program and be willing to keep their records current with the PDP Office.

Applications are accepted throughout the year and eligibility will be on a first come, first served basis. Individuals accepted into the program will be notified in writing and encouraged to take courses beginning the next semester. COPE participants sign an agreement to teach in an ESE classroom for 2 years for each year of full time tuition assistance received following graduation. Failure to do so may result in recoupment of tuition funds paid by COPE .

Applications may be downloaded here;
COPE Application   (pdf - 59kb)

COPE Program Agreement (pdf - 275kb)