About Us

Students in the first CORE cohort

The CORE program is committed to Creating Opportunities and Resources for Educators. It will achieve this by creating a partnership between the School District of Osceola County, Valencia Community College, and the University of Central Florida.

The Osceola School District is facing a shortage of teachers in all fields, including elementary education. Many Osceola School District employees who currently work in support positions are interested in becoming teachers. However, many of these potentially excellent aspiring teachers are unable to reach their goal because of the difficulties of pursuing an education while working. Valencia Community College and the University of Central Florida plan on providing educational programs leading to the completion of an Associate of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary or Exceptional Education. These programs will be tailored to the needs of these working adults

The details of this innovative partnership can be found below.  Each partner has summarized how they intend to proceed.

Earlier this year, the Commissioner of Education announced that Florida colleges would graduate only 50% of the teachers needed to fill vacancies in the 2000-2001 school year. Although they are doing an excellent job of preparing students for the teaching ranks, the state’s colleges of education cannot fill a growing number of slots for which they do not have candidates. This alarming trend is, in part, due to a graying workforce in the teacher ranks and to explosive growth in student populations in Florida’ s K-12 schools. Districts have begun to employ strategies previously only found in the business community to attract quality candidates to their ranks such as signing bonuses, moving expenses, job sharing and other enticements. The recruitment efforts have resulted in minimal success. Salary and benefit packages in other states and in the private sector are all too often significantly more attractive. Georgia teachers’ salaries, for instance, average nearly $4000 higher than those in Florida.

In response, a dynamic program called CORE has been designed to address the alarming and immediate need for teachers in Osceola County. CORE (Creating Opportunities and Resources for Educators) is a creative partnership between Valencia Community College, the University of Central Florida and The School District of Osceola County, Florida. CORE will bring dedicated and well-qualified teachers into Osceola County classrooms. Many of them will be recruited from the ranks of current non-instructional personnel within the Osceola School District. Once admitted to the program, candidates may pursue an Associate of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in an accelerated program without leaving Osceola County.

The proximity of a four-year college has always been a stumbling block for employees who might otherwise pursue a four-year degree. Travel time and expense are often prohibitive for these employees. In addition, many struggle with the difficulties of pursuing an education while working full-time. CORE provides solutions to these problems.

The success of this endeavor depends largely upon the support of the partners in the program. While not yet formally presented to our School Board, the partnership has already received the support of Board Members, our Superintendent, the School Operations Associate Superintendent, the Instructional Programs Department and the Professional Development Department. Each of the District’s proponents is committed to making the partnership a success by supporting the various facets of the program such as: Media Advertisement and Marketing, Classroom space, Mentors/mentorship programs, Tracking, Identification of potential students, Supervision of interns, Inservice Points (which could lead to an annual bonus of up to $1000), Placement of junior and senior interns in the Osceola District Schools.

Currently, district staff is working to seek solutions to the challenges of work, class and internship scheduling. We are also addressing the challenges faced by single income, single parent households particularly because this program specifically targets lower-paid employees who are also likely to be in those households. Further progress in these areas would necessitate School Board action and negotiations with our non-instructional bargaining unit.

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VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OSCEOLA CAMPUS

Advising: Student Services will provide special assistance to CORE students. This includes dedicating an academic advisor to the program. The coordinator for this project will be responsible for making sure that a real community of learners develops. Part of this effort will include the creation of a web site and message board for CORE students and faculty.

Registration: Students will be able to register at any Valencia Community College site. Alternatively, they will be able to use the online registration system. Advanced registration will be available for CORE students.

Financial Aid: The staff of the Financial Aid Office at the Osceola Campus will be available each school year for individual appointments to assist students in the CORE program. The service will include one-on-one assistance in the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students will be encouraged to apply for federal and state aid as well as scholarships.

Articulation: Valencia Community College’s Osceola Campus will provide a sequence of classes leading to an Associate of Arts degree. This course of study has been designed to meet several criteria, including:

The requirements for Valencia Community College’s Pre-Major in Education (General Preparation) which leads to the Associate of Arts degree.

The program requirements for UCF’s Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education.

The new State of Florida general education requirements for teacher preparation.

Therefore, students can be confident that they will be thoroughly prepared to meet all requirements.

Scheduling: Academic departments will schedule and staff a sequence of courses that is keyed in to District employee’s schedules. Classes will be held on Saturdays and on Wednesday afternoons and evenings to minimize disruption to employee schedules.

Targeted Groups of Students: This plan will serve several distinct groups of students. They are described below:

The sequence of courses is designed to take Osceola School District employees who are first time in college students through all the requirements for an Associate of Arts degree. These students will have completed any remedial work they need. They will form a cohort that will go through the entire program together.

Other Osceola School District employees already have some college credits. They will have access to the same advising and support services as the cohort group. They will also be able to take just the courses they need to enable them to transfer to UCF as juniors.

Non-District employees will be able to enroll in this program on a space available basis. Since this is not a limited access program, it is open to all students.

This 60 credit hour sequence is designed to meet UCF’s program requirements and the State of Florida’s standards for professional teacher preparation. Students will need additional course work if they have not completed their foreign language requirements or if they need preparatory courses.

Classes will meet primarily on Wednesday evenings and on Saturday.

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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA - COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Admissions: Offer members of the CORE cohort group an opportunity to submit an application and transcripts to UCF and receive an on the spot "decision". Decision means: admitted, denied, or deferred.

When: CORE I - November 2002 for Summer 2003 entry. This date is selected to insure timely admission to UCF, Transfer Scholarship application, and processing of federal and state financial aid.

Where: The "Decision Event" would take place at Valencia – Osceola preferably before or after a scheduled class session.

Registration/Records:

Registration: Students will be batch registered by the College of Education at the Osceola Campus. The Enrollment Services personnel will provide any necessary support when "special" registration circumstances arise.

Health & Immunization Form: It is assumed all courses offered at VCC-Osceola would be listed as " off campus". In that case, no health form or proof of immunization is required. Listing the courses any other way will require processing of the immunization record. The UCF Enrollment Services office will process these documents and remove holds.

Financial Aid: Cohort students will follow the same procedures used at VCC to apply for federal financial aid programs. Completion and submission of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to the federal processor is required each year to be considered.

Federal Financial Assistance

Federal Pell Grant *

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)*

Federal College Work Study*-this will be difficult for this cohort group to receive since UCF does not have offices at VCC-Osceola Student employment opportunities may be available at other UCF campuses, sites, and centers.

Federal Perkins Loan*

Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Stafford Loans*

State Financial Assistance

Bright Futures Scholarships-awarded upon high school graduation

Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)*

Florida Fund for Minority Teachers-requires separate application

Institutional Awards/Scholarships

Community College Transfer Scholarships-most require a separate application and may require completion of the FAFSA. GPA requirements may vary.

Minority Community College Transfer Scholarships—need and merit based, see application for details.

Ralph C. Boston Transfer Scholarship—merit based, 3.85 overall GPA, two semester, non-renewable, full time enrollment required

Florida All Academic Team Transfer Scholarship—merit based, must be member of All Academic Team, no application required

Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship—merit based, 3.5 overall GPA, two semester, non-renewable, full time enrollment required

Community College Transfer Scholarship—merit based, 3.5 overall GPA, two semester, non-renewable, full time enrollment required

Community College Honors Transfer Scholarship—students who participated in an Honors program at the community college are nominated by their school.

UCF Merit Scholarship-no application required. Offered to current UCF studen ts who demonstrate academic excellence after two semesters at UCF.

Honors in the major.

Orientation: Every student admitted to the University of Central Florida is required to attend a New Student Orientation prior to registration in classes. The Orientation Office at UCF will offer an evening or Saturday orientation at Valencia for the cohort students. This will require advanced planning and coordination with the actual presenters. Students will probably be required to register and pay for orientation well in advance of the event.

Classes will meet primarily on Wednesday evenings and on Saturday.

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SUMMARY OF CORE PARTNERS’ CONTRIBUTIONS

School District of Osceola County

The School District of Osceola County will:

Recruit students into the program via e-mail, flyers, organizational meetings, and other activities.

Identify teachers and administrators who will be willing to serve as "coaches" for students enrolled in the CORE program.

Provide incentives for students in the CORE program. Tuition reimbursement may be available for qualified employees enrolled in junior and senior classes.

Provide assistance in supervising internships.

Valencia Community College

Valencia Community College will:

Provide dedicated advising and financial aid services to CORE students.

Provide a faculty member to serve as the Coordinator for the freshman and sophomore years of the program.

Design, schedule, and staff a sequence of classes that will allow a seamless transition into UCF’s Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education. These classes will be scheduled to meet the needs of Osceola School District employees.

University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida will:

Schedule and staff a sequence of classes that will lead to a Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education. These classes will be held at Valencia Community College’s Osceola Campus.

Provide on-site admissions, registration, and orientations to students enrolled in the CORE program.

Work with The School District of Osceola County to place CORE students in District schools during their internships.

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VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Valencia Community College is an innovative leader in higher education with a national reputation for teaching excellence. With four campuses and two centers in the Orlando area, Valencia Community College is the fourth largest of Florida's 28 community colleges, teaching more than 50,000 students a year. Valencia offers three types of degrees: the Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.) and the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. Approximately one-third of the upper-division enrollment at the University of Central Florida is made up of transfer students and graduates from Valencia. Valencia offers more than 50 A.S., A.A.S. and certificate programs, which lead to immediate entry into the workforce. New degrees include Music Production Technology, Computer Engineering Technology and Multimedia Technology.

Valencia offers 45 A.A. pre-majors that prepare students to transfer as juniors to a four-year university. Valencia’s General Preparation Education program parallels the first two years of a four-year degree in Elementary Education. Besides taking core classes in areas like composition, psychology and speech, General Education students take classes on teaching diverse populations, technology for educators and teaching exceptional students. Valencia is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

Established in 1963, the University of Central Florida, with an enrollment of approximately 38,000 students, one of ten state universities in the State University System of Florida. The University of Central Florida is a major metropolitan university with its main campus in Orlando, area campuses in Brevard and Daytona Beach, and numerous sites and centers throughout an eleven county region in Central Florida (Flagler, Volusia, Brevard, Osceola, Lake, Sumter, Marion, Orange, Seminole, Citrus, and Polk.

The College of Education, home to approximately 4,000 students, is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and is recognized for its exemplary partnerships. The goal of the College of Education is to provide outstanding professional education programs in a pluralistic and global society. Such preparation is based on research, is flexible, and is rigorous, requiring that all those completing programs demonstrate competencies and skills in their professional fields. Students may choose from eleven Undergraduate programs, sixteen Masters degree programs, Graduate Certificate programs, thee Education Specialist degrees, and Ed.D and Ph.D. programs.

August 15, 2000

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