The Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO) administers a tuition reimbursement program, whereas the DHEO will make a payment on behalf of an awarded applicant directly to the institution after the semester is complete. This program supports educators who currently hold an Emergency Certificate or a Certificate of Eligibility in a critical need certification area during the time they took the coursework.
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible for the Critical Need Reimbursement Program, an applicant must:
- Be a full-time employee of a Delaware district or charter school
- Teach on a valid Emergency Certificate or a Certificate of Eligibility in a critical need area as defined by the Delaware Department of Education, and be enrolled in coursework leading to Standard Certification.
- Attend any out-of-state regionally accredited college or university, or Alternative Routes to Teacher Licensure and Certification programs approved by the Delaware Secretary of Education and authorized to operate in Delaware.
- Hold an active Emergency Certificate or Certificate of Eligibility in a critical need area at the time the coursework was completed.
- Complete the course with a 2.0 GPA or higher on 4.0 scale (“C” or higher).
The table below outlines the eligible Critical Need Certification Areas for the period spanning Summer 2025 to Spring 2027. These areas are determined based on the state’s Teacher Shortage Areas.
| Subject Area | Certifications |
| English Language Learner | 1561 Bilingual Teacher
1562 Teacher of English Learners |
| Immersion (Elementary/World language) | 1521 Elementary Teachers (only if seeking Immersion position with demonstrated language proficiency)
1565 World Language Teacher |
| Math | 1532 Middle Level Mathematics Teacher
1542 Secondary Mathematics Teacher |
| School Nurse | 1582 School Nurse |
| Science | 1533 Middle Level Science Teacher
1543 Secondary Science Teacher |
| Special Education (All Areas) | 1570 Early Childhood Exceptional Children Special Education Teacher
1571 Special Education Teacher of Students with Disabilities 1573 Teacher of Students with Autism or with Severe Intellectual Disabilities 1574 Teacher of Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing 1575 Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments |
| Skilled and Technical Sciences – Construction | 1559 Skilled and Technical Sciences Teacher + select Construction concentrations:
|
| Skilled and Technical Sciences – Restaurants and Food/Beverage Services | 1559 Skilled and Technical Sciences Teacher + select Restaurants and Food/Beverage Services concentrations:
|
| Skilled and Technical Sciences – Therapeutic Services | 1559 Skilled and Technical Sciences Teacher + select Therapeutic Services concentrations:
|
Yearly Award Limits
Applicants can submit for reimbursement for a maximum of 2 courses per year (summer, fall, winter, spring), not to exceed a total of six credits. Eligible educators may receive reimbursement for 1 of the following combinations each academic year:
- 2 credit-bearing courses (up to 6 credits total).
- 2 non credit-bearing seminars or workshops required for certification.
- 1 noncredit-bearing seminar or workshop required for certification and up to 1 three-credit course.
For this program, the reimbursement year begins with the summer term and includes the subsequent fall, winter, and spring terms. Award amounts are prorated each year based upon available funding and the number of eligible applicants.
Reimbursement Procedures:
- Applicants must submit their application during the designated application period corresponding to the reimbursement term as listed in the table below.
- After the application deadline has passed, DHEO will review online applications to determine eligibility for each applicant.
- All applicants will be notified of their award status via email.
- Once eligibility is verified, the awarded amount will be sent directly to the institution of higher education wwhere the educator completed the eligible coursework.
- The institution will be responsible for reimbursing the recipient in accordance with its policies.
Application Information
| Term | Application & Description | Application Opens | Application Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | The online application for coursework taken during summer 2025. | 09/01/2025 @ 8:00am | 09/15/2025 @ 4:30pm |
| Fall/Winter | The online application for coursework taken during fall/winter 2025-2026. | 02/02/2026 @ 8:00am | 02/16/2026 @ 4:30pm |
| Spring | The online application for coursework taken during spring 2026. | 05/01/2026 @ 8:00am | 05/15/2026 @ 4:30pm |
*Please be aware: Application links will only be active during the designated application windows. Late applications will not be accepted.
