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Program to reimburse teachers is extended
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Posted on Sep 29 2005
Gov. Juan N. Babauta has extended the program that provides teachers up to $250 to buy materials for use in their classrooms. The out-of-pocket reimbursement program is part of the governor’s Education Initiative.
To qualify, a teacher must submit receipts for books and paper and other classroom materials, which the teacher has purchased, to the Department of Finance. The department then issues a check to reimburse the teacher.
“I originally budgeted $62,000 for the out-of-pocket reimbursement program, using federal grant funds,” Babauta explains. “That was enough for 248 teachers to apply for the maximum reimbursement of $250 each.”
“But, so far, only about 40 teachers have applied for reimbursement. So we have $51,000 still available. I want to be sure that money gets into teachers’ pockets to help put supplies into classrooms.”
When the program began, forms for teachers to use to apply for reimbursement were distributed to all PSS schools. The forms were distributed again to coincide with the governor’s announcement of the program extension.
In addition to the $250 reimbursement under the Governor’s Education Initiative, teachers are also able to deduct another $250 in expenses when filing their income tax returns. Up to $250 for books, supplies, computer equipment and software, and other materials used for an educational purpose may be deducted from income on line 23 of the CNMI 1040. The “educators expense” tax program was put in place in 2002.
Besides providing funds for teachers’ out-of-pocket reimbursement, the Governor’s Education Initiative has also given $2,500 Performance Improvement Grants to 62 teachers. Unlike the out-of-pocket reimbursements, which are available to all teachers, the Performance Improvement Grants were awarded competitively. A group of five teachers selected the winning grants.
San Antonio Elementary School was the top recipient of Performance Improvement Grants. Teachers at San Antonio were awarded $41, 562.
Funding to continue the Governor’s Education Initiative has been included in the governor’s budget proposals. But the Legislature has failed to enact a budget since Sept. 10, 2002. (PR)
