This release comes from the Lone Star College System:

Lone Star College System has received $500,000 from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to help defer costs for students completing the Alternative Teacher Certification programs in math and science.

Beginning this semester students enrolling in teacher certification for math or science can receive up to a 20 percent discount on their tuition and fees.

“This is certainly a good use of funds in this trying economy and it will help us get more teachers into critical areas,” said Dr. Ellene Polidore, interim executive director for Continuing Education.

The money was set aside by the State Legislature to help address the need for math and science teachers in Texas and was awarded based on the 2008-2009 completion rate at the colleges. Each of the five Lone Star colleges has an Alternative Teacher Certification program, with LSC-Kingwood as the largest.

“This is a great incentive for us to recruit and train teachers in areas with the highest need,” said Dr. Dell Burditt, senior program manager for LSCS Teacher Certification.

For more information, see LoneStar.edu/atcp.htm