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Course Request & Reimbursement Procedure

Course Request Approval Process

Employees seeking District approval for coursework must complete and submit the Course Request Form prior to enrolling in the course.

 
Course Request Form
 

  • Submission of the Google Form serves as the official course request and automatically notifies the Superintendent’s Office for review and processing.
  • Course Request Forms should be submitted several weeks prior to the commencement of the class to allow sufficient time for review and approval.
  • All course requests are reviewed by the Superintendent’s Office in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and District procedures to determine eligibility for tuition reimbursement and/or salary schedule advancement.
  • Prior approval is required for all coursework to ensure eligibility.

As part of the course approval process, employees will be asked to provide information regarding the course, including:

  • Course level (graduate or undergraduate).
  • Whether the course is being taken toward a degree program.
  • Whether the course is part of a Graduate Degree Program or Graduate-Level Specialized Program.

If the course is part of a Graduate Degree Program or Graduate-Level Specialized Program, employees must provide the name of the program. This information assists the District in determining eligibility, particularly when coursework is outside an employee’s certified area.

Tuition Reimbursement

Employees requesting tuition reimbursement must complete the requirements outlined below:

  • An Intent to Take Graduate Courses Notification must be submitted annually prior to April 1 for courses taken during the following school year (July 1–June 30). The District sends a Google “Intent to Take Graduate Courses” Form via email communication annually in late February or early March for employees to complete and submit by the April 1 deadline.
  • This notification is required for tuition reimbursement under Article V, § 503(c) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • This requirement is waived for new hires during their first year of employment.

Upon successful completion of an approved course, employees requesting reimbursement must submit the following documentation to the HR Department:

  • Official transcript showing successful completion and grade received.
  • Itemized receipt.
  • Proof of payment.

Tuition reimbursement is subject to the requirements outlined in Article V, § 503, including successful completion of the course with a grade of B (or equivalent) or higher.

Salary Schedule Advancement (Horizontal Movement)

Employees may request that approved coursework be considered for salary schedule advancement (horizontal movement) in accordance with Article II, § 204 (Horizontal Movement) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

  • Coursework must meet the requirements outlined in the CBA to be considered for movement on the salary schedule.
  • Employees requesting salary schedule advancement must submit the required documentation, including official transcripts, in accordance with the CBA requirements and District procedures.

Approved Institutional Accreditation

For purposes of tuition reimbursement and salary schedule advancement, the District recognizes graduate coursework from institutions accredited by the following regional accrediting bodies:

All questions regarding course requests, approval, eligibility, or reimbursement should be directed to:
Superintendent’s Office, Lisa Tkach (tkachl@cattysd.org)