ELNORA - The North Daviess School Board on Tuesday has authorized the school move forward on a new program that will assist teachers to get master's degrees. The program is expected to benefit students, teachers and parents.
"We are incentivizing the teachers to get a master's degree," said ND Superintendent Robert Bell.
Under the plan, North Daviess will utilize Title II grant money to provide a $6,000 stipend to assist secondary school teachers to get advanced degrees in their content area or elementary teachers to pick up a master's in language arts, reading and math.
"If the teachers do not get these then the state of Indiana will not allow us to offer dual credit classes anymore," explained Bell. "We have to have everything in place by 2022 or we can't offer those dual credit classes anymore."
The dual credit classes allow students in high school to take classes that can also be applied to college credits.
"We have teachers now who are working to get their master's in their content area," said Bell. "Some have a master's, but not in their content area. Others don't have a master's. Some need up to 18 hours to get that degree."
North Daviess has about 25 teachers involved in the dual credit program. Bell says some of them already have the degree needed for the dual credit programs.
"It's a plus if we can get them to do that," he said. "Dual credits can save students and families thousands of dollars when they go on to college."
The school board authorized officials to go ahead with the project. A formal board policy is being drawn and will be considered at the next meeting.