Briefly

Loan forgiveness incentive for new special education teachers

Individuals who are now or who are seeking to become highly qualified special education teachers may qualify for a loan forgiveness of up to $17,500 under a new federal provision signed into law earlier this year.

The "Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005" also applies to certain full-time secondary school math and science teachers who meet the "highly qualified" teacher definition under so-called No Child Left Behind.

To qualify for student loan forgiveness, a teacher received a Stafford Loan through the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and/or the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program; was a new borrower, that is if you didn't have an outstanding balance on a FFEL or Direct Loan on Oct. 1, 1998, or on the date you obtained an FFEL or Direct Loan after Oct. 1, 1998; and has been teaching for five consecutive academic years in an eligible, low-income school, among other requirements.

In addition, teachers who do not teach math, science or special education and began teaching on or after Oct. 30, 2004 may be eligible for up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness, if they meet the "highly qualified" teacher definition and the eligibility requirements specified above. Teachers who began teaching before Oct. 30. 2004 continue to qualify for up to $5,000 in student loan forgiveness and are not required to meet the "highly qualified" teacher definition.

Details are available online in pdf format. A copy of the letter from Education Secretary Margaret Spellings detailing the loan forgiveness incentive for new special education teachers is online.

Contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800-433-3243 with additional questions concerning loan forgiveness requirements and benefits.

Lessons on how to deal with indoor environmental quality

Schools, by their nature, are special. But because of their unique environments -- high density, building construction and home to unique activities -- indoor environmental quality issues are different than those found in an office or home.

But understanding and conducting a proper analysis of particulates in an environment can solve indoor health complaints, according to Russ Crutcher, of Redmond-based Microlab Northwest.

Contaminants affect every individual differently but educators need to be aware that "people are particle sources" and educators and students all bring "particles" to schools, whether visible or not.

Environmental quality complaints in schools are attributable to particles including glass fibers, cleaning residues, insect debris and mold, or a combination of several factors, said Crutcher, who was a guest speaker at a recent WEA Indoor Environmental Quality Work Team meeting held at WEA headquarters in Federal Way.

Classrooms are "not environments that lend themselves to cleaning," said Crutcher, who also reviewed how and where to take samples from the environment. And "there can be a number of different problems occurring in classrooms at the same time."

WEA-Retired Dollar for Scholars recipients

Five WEA members just received a financial boost in their pursuit of enhancing their education and training from their retired colleagues.

This year's WEA-Retired Dollars for Scholars are: Kelly Backous and Leslie Walker, both Student WEA members (SWEA); Carolyn Kochis, Longview CPEA; James Weller, Quilcene EA; and Christopher Wauters, Vancouver Association ESP.

The $750 nonrenewable scholarships were presented at the WEA- Retired annual meeting last month. The scholarships were established in 1996 as a memorial to deceased members of the WEA.

Evergreen faculty members file for union election

Faculty members at The Evergreen State College in Olympia have filed for a union representation election.

Members of the United Faculty of Evergreen expect a fall election. Earlier this year, faculty members at Western Washington University voted for unionization, following earlier votes by their colleagues at Central and Eastern Washington universities. All four faculty groups are affiliated with the statewide United Faculty of Washington State, which is affiliated with both WEA and AFT Washington.

Legislative Scholars Program July 18-20

The Legislative Scholar Program offers middle and high school social studies, government, history and civics teachers an interactive experience to gain an inside view of the legislative process. Teachers will have an opportunity to meet with legislative members and staff, and take home lesson plans. The option to return to Olympia during the legislative session to observe and possibly shadow a legislator also is available.

Tuition, food, lodging and transportation expenses are covered by the Washington State Legislature. More information about the program is online.

Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship and Loan Repayment

The Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program will select about 70 applicants for the 2006-07 academic year.

The program is available to Washington residents pursuing (through at least half-time enrollment) an initial teaching certificate (or additional endorsement) in the areas of math, science, special education or bilingual education. Selected applicants must commit to teaching math, science, special education or in a bilingual classroom in a Washington state K-12 public school.

Classified K-12 public school employees pursuing their certification or endorsement in math, science, special education or bilingual education will receive priority during the selection process. Eligible bilingual applicants who commit to using their bilingual skills in a public classroom will also receive selection priority.

The application form, a fact sheet, and the application deadline are available on the state Higher Education Coordinating Board Web site.

In exchange for conditional scholarships (loans paid while in you're still enrolled in school, or as repayments to federal student loans if you are teaching), participants are obligated to a specific length of teaching service in Washington public K-12 schools. For the 2006-07 program, that means one year teaching in exchange for one year of benefits. Participants will still receive their normal school paycheck in addition to the program's loan payments.

For more detailed information, please contact Mary Knutson at 360-753-7845 or Julie Japhet at 360-753-7840. If you prefer, you may leave a message at 888-535-0747 and choose option 2.

Here today, gone to Mars

Peninsula EA member Phyllis Krueger will be joining NASA scientists and educators on a field research expedition to the Atacama Desert in Chile this month.

Krueger, a science teacher at Key Peninsula Middle School, is one of seven teachers in the nation chosen to join a team of scientists led by Dr. Chris McKay, one of the world's leading planetary scientists, and an expert on Mars and looking for life on Mars. The Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth and has been for millions of years, which makes it a perfect Mars analogy. Krueger and the team will transect parts of the desert looking for the threshold that indicates signs of life.

Reach WEA Editor Linda Woo at lwoo@WashingtonEA.org, via postal mail at WEA, PO Box 9100, Federal Way, WA 98063-9100; phone 253-765-7027 (or toll-free outside Seattle-Tacoma: 800-622-3393 ext. 7027); or fax 253-946-7612. We welcome story ideas, letters to the editor and suggestions for improving WE-Washington Education, or WEA Online.