Knox County Schools supports employees who wish to take coursework that is relevant to the employee seeking certification and/or additional endorsement in an approved critical needs subject area. In keeping with this philosophy, Knox County Schools has established a continuing education assistance program for expenses incurred through approved institutions of learning.

Full-time regular employee, certificated or non-certificated, employed with Knox County Schools six (6) months or more, will be eligible for participation in the tuition program as long as the courses lead to certification or endorsement in an approved critical needs subject area as determined by the Executive Director of Human Resources.

To be eligible, employees must be employed by the Knox County Board of Education, both at the beginning of the course, the end of the course and at the time of reimbursement.

Knox County Schools will reimburse up to a maximum of $1,200.00 per course or $2,400.00 per academic school year for tuition expenses incurred by an employee for continuing education through an accredited program. The employee must secure a minimum passing grade of a "B" or its equivalent to receive a reimbursement. Expenses must be validated by receipts and a copy of the final grade or transcript.

This program presents a tuition benefit opportunity for Knox County Board of Education employees. Employees receiving the benefit and obtaining additional certification(s) or endorsement(s) are required to teach a minimum of three (3) years in the subject area for which the employee received the tuition assistance. Should the employee resign or otherwise voluntarily leave employment with the Knox County Board of Education prior to completion of his/her program of coursework, the tuition assistance benefit ends and all tuition assistance funds accepted by the employee up to that point must be repaid. If the employee resigns or otherwise voluntarily leaves employment with the Knox County Board of Education within three (3) years or less from the date of completion of his/her coursework and his/her receipt of additional certification or endorsement, repayment of all tuition assistance shall be required of the employee. If the Board is unable to offer the employee a position in the area of the newly obtained licensure, the employee shall not be required to repay the tuition assistance funds.

If funds are not sufficient for all requests, a determination for tuition assistance will be based on the school system's critical needs.  The procedures and application are broad guidelines developed by Knox County Schools Human Resources Department to assist with implementation and organizational decisions. The procedures detailed therein are an attempt to address how the program guidelines should be applied. It is not possible to address every situation or circumstance under these guidelines; therefore, the administration reserves the right to make decisions regarding this benefit on a case by case basis. 

Knox County Schools will make every effort to ensure that all employees are treated fairly and equitably. Please contact the Human Resources Department regarding any questions about the Continuing Education Assistance Program. 

KCS EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM  

Knox County Schools (KCS) Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers participating in the KCS Educator Preparation Program (EPP) to achieve their practitioner occupational teacher license pay $2,400.00 for the 18-month program in its entirety. These payments are made through voluntary payroll deductions.

Once participating CTE teachers complete three (3) consecutive years of service with KCS as a CTE teacher, they can be considered for reimbursement for the full $2,400.00 cost upon successful and satisfactory completion of the KCS EPP and achievement of the appropriate licensure for their CTE position. This provision is limited to KCS CTE teachers participating in the KCS EPP only.  

JOB-EMBEDDED EDUCATORS

Full-time, job-embedded educators employed with Knox County Schools six (6) months or more, will be eligible for participation in the continuing education assistance program as long as the courses lead to certification or endorsement in an approved critical needs subject area as determined by the Executive Director of Human Resources.

To be eligible, employees must be employed by the Knox County Board of Education, both at the beginning of the course, the end of the course and at the time of reimbursement.

Knox County Schools will reimburse up to a maximum of $1,200.00 per course or $2,400.00 per academic school year for tuition expenses incurred by an employee for continuing education through an accredited program. The employees must secure a minimum passing grade of a “B” or its equivalent to receive a reimbursement. Expenses must be validated by receipts and a copy of the final grade or transcript.