| The BASE-TN (Become a Special Educator in Tennessee) Teaching Program, funded by the Tennessee Department of Education’s Division of Special Education, is now available at the University of Tennessee at Martin. BASE-TN is designed to increase the number of teachers qualified to teach students with special needs in Tennessee. BASE-TN provides financial support for persons who meet eligibility criteria and desire to earn an initial Tennessee teaching license or endorsement in special education. This support involves a commitment to teach in a Tennessee public school two years for each academic year of financial support received. BASE-TN will pay for tuition only. Additional costs, such as testing, copying, meals and books, must be paid by the student. There are two groups of candidates who are eligible to apply for BASE-TN. Those with first priority include individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in an area other than special education (2.75 GPA required) and desire to obtain a license to teach in special education. Individuals currently employed as an educational paraprofessional in a special education classroom and who have already completed a minimum of two years of undergraduate coursework or have earned an associate degree (2.75 GPA required) are among those in the second priority group. The first group of UT?Martin students who will be supported by BASE-TN tuition funding will begin in summer. The deadline to apply is March 11. Approximately 10 students will be selected. For more information, contact Dr. Beth Quick, UT Martin Department of Educational Studies chair, at bquick@utm.edu or 731-881-7210. To learn more about BASE-TN or to get an application, visit www.k12.tn.us/BASE-TN. wcp 2/01/11 | 
