Educational Aide Exemption Program

Changes to Educational Aide Exemption Program

Judson ISD participates in the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's college tuition exemption program.

Texas Education Code §54.214 authorizes an exemption from tuition and mandatory fees other than class and laboratory fees for individuals who have been employed as full-time educational aides for at least one school year during the prior 5 years at a public school in Texas and who are attending a public institution of higher education in Texas to become certified as a teacher.

The 81st Legislative Session passed HB2347 which has caused the following change:

Effective September 1, 2009, The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will no longer process Educational Aide Exemption Applications or determine eligibility for the Educational Aide Exemption Program. The college or university will now administer this process.

If you submitted a 2009-10 application on behalf of your employee before July 1st, we will process and provide notification to your school district and to the institution as normal.

All 2009-10 applications received on or after July 1st, will be returned to the institution specified on your employee’s application, and the institution will process accordingly.

To get a current Educational Aide Exemption Application, instructions and information, visit our website, www.collegeforalltexans.com.

We would appreciate it if you would share this memo with persons employed in your school district as educational aides, substitute teachers and school employees who may be eligible for this program.

To meet the initial requirements, applicants must the following criteria:

1. have one school year of full-time educational aide experience in Texas within the past 5 years for his/her initial exemption; (Educational aides are aides working in the classroom directly with students.)
   OR
   a substitute teacher with 180 full days of service within the past 5 years for his/her initial exemption
2. meet certain economic criteria;
3. enroll in a program leading to teacher certification at a Texas public institution of higher education;
4. be employed in some capacity by a school district in Texas (ex: educational aide, bus driver, substitute teacher, etc.).

Please note that substitute teachers participating in the program must accept work assignments during the term in which they are receiving the exemption. Please notify the institution if your employee does not accept assignments.

Spring semester eligibility is dependent on the employee’s continued employment with the school district. The institution the employee attends will provide the necessary documentation to your school district to verify current employment. If an employee is participating in the program and leaves your school district, you must notify the institution.

Thank you for your cooperation with this program and for assisting in making this a smooth transition. If you have any questions, please contact the Grants and Special Programs staff at 1-800-242-3062, press option 3, 4 and 5 or send us an email at Edaide@thecb.state.tx.us.