Reimbursements for Blended Learning Professional Development

Date:  December 10, 2020
Subject: Reimbursements for Blended Learning Professional Development
Category: Reimbursements for Professional Development
Next Steps:  Share with superintendents, curriculum & instruction staff, and campus leaders

 

Blended learning is an instructional model that combines in-person or remote teacher-led instruction and online instruction to differentiate learning for all students. Job-embedded professional development (PD) integrated with a high-quality and aligned online curriculum is foundational to the success of a blended learning model. To assist school systems in a high-fidelity implementation of blended learning, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will reimburse school districts and open-enrollment charter schools for blended learning professional development programs from qualifying providers. 

The qualified programs for Blended Learning Professional Development Reimbursements are: 

PD Provider & Contact Info

Available Courses

Website

UTeach at UT Austin 

pdinfo@uteach.utexas.edu

Courses: 

• Beginner: Foundations of Blended Learning (FBL) 

• Advanced: Advanced Blended Learning (ABL) 

 

Details: 

• Length: 30 CPE hours (both) over 3 months 

• Cost: $1,000 per course

Link

UT High School at UT Austin 

UTHS_BLPD@austin.utexas.edu

Courses: 

• Beginner: BL Basics 

• Intermediate: BL Curriculum & Instruction Design & Delivery 

• Intermediate: BL Flex Model Design & Delivery 

• Advanced: BL Coaching & Support 

 

Details: 

• Length: 6 hours over 6 weeks 

• Cost: Beginner & Intermediate $225 per course; Advanced: $500 per course

Link

 

Additionally, participants of Math Innovation Zones and the Blended Learning Grant Program (BLGP) are eligible to receive reimbursement from TNTP and Instruction Partners as approved BLGP PD vendors. 

Process for Approval of Reimbursements: 

  1. LEA contacts PD provider, completes provider-created readiness materials, and submits list of educators to be enrolled in the program to the PD provider; 
  2. TEA and the PD provider will review readiness assessment and approve LEA and educator eligibility for reimbursements; 
  3. Once approval is obtained, LEA pays the cost of the selected program and educators begin the PD program; and 
  4. Upon verified educator completion of the program, TEA will reimburse the LEA. 

Please note: 

  1. TEA will only reimburse the cost of the professional development program. 
  2. Reimbursements will be approved based on the availability of funds and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. 
  3. For the 2020-2021 academic year, PD programs must be completed by August 30, 2021, to be eligible for reimbursement. 

This funding for the program is provided by Rider 53 of the General Appropriations Act of the 86th Texas Legislature. 

For additional information or assistance, please email MIZ@tea.texas.gov

Sincerely, 

Andrew Hodge 
Director of Innovative Instructional Models 
Texas Education Agency 
1701 North Congress Avenue 
Austin, Texas 78701