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The financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected our students and depleted the funds we had available to provide financial assistance for certification tests. Can you help a future teacher with your gift today?
The students enrolled in OU's teacher education program in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education work very hard to earn their degree so that they can teach the next generation of K12 students. However, before they can walk across the graduation stage and into their very own classroom, they have to pass a series of background checks and certification tests mandated by the state of Oklahoma (or any state in which they choose to teach).
These background checks and certification tests cost money, and right now, students are responsible for paying these costs. Certification and background check costs are in addition to their tuition and fees for OU, and utilize resources which could otherwise be spent for items for their first classroom. Taylor and Chelsea give you a glimpse into what this experience is like in the video above.
At any already stressful time, students are asking themselves, “Where am I going to get the money to pay for these exams?”
The pandemic has shown our society’s need for educators who can teach in person or virtually, with strong knowledge of subject matter and classroom management. Our students embody all of those qualities, and sometimes the only thing keeping them from teaching is the financial burden of certification. You can lift that burden for a teacher with your gift today.
If we hit our goal of $4000, we will be able to fully pay for the certification fees and background checks for 11 students, with some money to partially pay for other students' costs.
We’re only a few weeks into a new academic year and students are already requesting financial support for these tests since money is so tight. Small gifts to cover the costs of certification tests and background checks can make a BIG difference for students as they try to conquer their last hurdle before teaching. $15, $35, or $59 may be all that's standing between a qualified pre-service teacher and their classroom full of students.
A $15 gift means $15 less one of our students has to find for their background check or certification tests.
$35 will cover a student's registration fee for their teacher certification tests.
$59 will cover the fee for the criminal background check which all teachers must pass before being allowed in a classroom.
$125 is an average amount for a subject area test or professional teaching exam. Our students will have to take at least 1 subject area test (usually 2 or 3) and the professional teaching exam.
$364 is the total cost one student teacher would have to pay including their registration fee for certification tests, their subject area test, the professional teaching exam, and the criminal background check.
