Professional Growth Funding
Professional Growth funds are awarded to MAT members by the MAT Professional Growth Committee. The budget for the 2009-20010 fiscal year is $440,000. These funds support MAT tuition reimbursement, book reimbursement, conference and seminar expenses, and the annual MAT conference each Spring.
The $814,401 budget is currently divided as follows:
- $420,000 for professional growth activities
- $20,000 for the MAT conference each Spring (unused funds are returned to the professional growth pool)
The maximum professional growth award per MAT employee is currently $2,000 per fiscal year. These funds are available for tuition reimbursement, professional conferences, and training workshops.
Professional Growth Statement of Intent (doc)
Salary Advancement for Education
MAT employees are eligible for monetary compensation for certain certifications and educational degrees. Certifications must be approved and educational degrees must meet the following criteria for consideration:
- The degree must be a bachelor, masters, or doctoral degree.
- Qualifying degrees must be awarded by an institution accredited by the Council on Higher Education.
- The degree must be awarded during employment as a MAT employee.
- Probationary employees are not eligible for an educational advancement. Degrees earned during the probationary period may be submitted for educational advancement after successful completion of the probationary status and conversion to regular MAT employee status. The step increase or stipend will be effective in the pay period following verification of evidence.
Procedure for Compensation for Educational Degrees
- The MAT employee, upon completion of a degree and while employed in a regular MAT employee status, requests an official transcript from the institution awarding the degree to be sent to Judy Castellanos in Employee Relations at the district office.
- The MAT employee should send an email to Judy Castellanos in Employee Relations requesting salary compensation, stating what degree has been earned, and informing them that an official transcript has been requested.
- Employee Relations will verify that the employee is eligible for salary compensation (has not already received two increments and is a regular MAT employee).
- If the MAT employee is eligible, Employee Relations sends a PAR (Personnel Action Request) form to Payroll for processing.
- Compensation for degrees will be effective in the payroll period following confirmation of eligibility and receipt of the transcript.