Educational Benefits for Line of Duty Survivors

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POAT Guidelines for Educational Assistance for Line of Duty Survivors:

Per the Police Officer Assistance Trust’s Bylaws, educational assistance is created exclusively for charitable and educational purposes and its funds shall be utilized to provide scholarship assistance to the spouses and/or dependent children of certified law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty while employed full-time within the boundaries of Miami-Dade County, Florida; or the spouses and/or dependent children of certified law enforcement officers disabled in the line of duty in Miami-Dade County, Florida, determined on an individual basis by the Board of Directors. Funds shall be utilized in pursuing an education at a vocational-technical school or in pursuing undergraduate and post-secondary studies at a college or university located within the continental United States. To be eligible for scholarship assistance under the Trust an applicant must:

1. Be the child or spouse of a sworn full-time certified law enforcement officer
2. The child or spouse shall become and maintain throughout each school term the status of a full-time or part-time student. Full-time attendance is considered four or more courses during a regular semester. If attendance is less than full-time, the amount of assistance will be pro-rated based on the number of registered classes
3. Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a four point scale, or its equivalent, while in the vocational-technical school, college, or university being attended
4. In the case where the student drops or withdraws from course(s) or receives a failing or incomplete grade, where no course credits were earned, the educational funds expended will be deducted from future scholarship allocations

However, the student may provide a written appeal to the educational committee providing a verifiable explanation, as to illness, or other exigent circumstances which created a hardship whereby the course(s) could not be completed.

Persons eligible under the above-mentioned criteria shall complete an application for educational assistance and submit it to the Police Officer Assistance Trust. Also, include the course schedule, the latest transcript, and statement of fees to determine the amount of assistance we can provide. The completed application will be forwarded to the Educational Committee for review. Upon review of the application, a recommendation shall be made to the Board of Directors by the Educational Committee at the next scheduled monthly meeting.

Assistance shall be granted according to the following guidelines:

1. All vocational-technical schools, colleges, and universities must be accredited
2. For four-year undergraduate studies, assistance up to $4000 per semester, quarter, or term shall be considered to cover tuition costs, housing, lab fees, books, etc.
3. For two-year junior college studies, assistance up to $3000 per semester, quarter, or term shall be considered to cover tuition costs, housing, lab fees, books, etc.
4. For vocational or technical training, assistance will be determined on an individual basis but will not exceed the limits established under the junior college criteria
5. For post-secondary (masters) studies, assistance up to $5000 per semester, quarter, or term shall be considered to cover tuition costs, housing, lab fees, books, etc. Postgraduate assistance shall not exceed a maximum of four years. Eligibility will be determined on an individual basis by the Board of Directors
6. For doctoral degree, assistance up to $8000 per semester, quarter, or term shall be considered to cover tuition costs, housing, lab fees, books, etc. Postgraduate assistance shall not exceed a maximum of four years. Eligibility will be determined on an individual basis by the Board of Directors.
7. In cases where tuition is waived by the school or institute or paid for by other resources (scholarship, grant, philanthropic individual), the Board of Directors shall have the ability to award assistance consistent with the levels shown above
8. Amounts shall follow the tuition criteria established for the applicable type of educational institution chosen by the applicant

All tuition payments from the Trust shall be made directly to the educational institution or in the case of necessary expenses, payments shall be made to the applicant upon producing paid receipts.

Continuation of payments will be based upon receipt of the grade report form and schedule of classes and fees from the applicant. This is to verify both full-time or part-time status and grade point average.

The final decision to grant and/or continue all assistance shall be at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.