Special Education Scholarship Program

The Porto Center is proud to support our dedicated educators by offering tuition reimbursement scholarships for those pursuing a special education certificate or a master’s degree in special education. Eligible Diocese of Arlington teachers can receive up to 50% of tuition costs ($5,000 for certificates and $10,000 for master’s degrees) upon successful program completion.

We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to advance your professional skills, enrich your classroom, and continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of all your students.

Program Highlights:

The tuition reimbursement scholarship program provides financial assistance to educators pursuing advanced education in special education by obtaining a special education certificate or a master’s degree in special education.

Scholarship Awards

Tuition reimbursement scholarships for the special education certificate program will be a maximum of 50% of tuition paid by the participant, not to exceed $ 5,000. Tuition reimbursement scholarships for a master’s program will be a maximum of 50% of the tuition paid by the participant, not to exceed $ 10,000.

Eligibility

Applicants must be employed by and in good standing for a minimum of two years with an accredited Catholic elementary or high school recognized by the Diocese of Arlington.

Process

Applications should be submitted after acceptance to an accredited college or university and prior to beginning coursework. Proof of acceptance is a required part of the application. It is recognized that educators may begin a program at various points throughout the year; therefore, applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Educators who enroll in a certificate program must complete coursework within 18 months. Educators who enroll in a master's program must complete coursework within 36 months. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) must be obtained to be eligible for tuition reimbursement.

Agreement

Porto Charities makes no claims regarding or guarantees of employment anywhere upon completion of coursework. It is expected that awardees who accept reimbursement/scholarship funds to complete a certification program must agree to continue working for the Diocese of Arlington for a minimum of twelve months after completing coursework, or twenty-four months after completing a master's degree.

Reimbursement Process

Scholarships will be awarded to educators after all coursework needed to obtain either a certificate or a master's degree is satisfactorily completed. Educators must submit a copy of an official transcript showing a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and proof of payment. Awardees will participate in an exit interview before reimbursement is made.

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