Stipend
Literacy Matrix
Congratulations on successfully completing all Competencies 2-5 of the Literacy Matrix pathway for your Reading Endorsement!
Complete the secure form below to facilitate payment of your $2,000 completion stipend. Please be sure to provide accurate information as soon as possible so your stipend can be processed quickly!
Stipend Eligibility
Instructional personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2), F.S., and Administrative personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(3)(a) and (3)(c), F.S., who work at an LEA public school or school district.
Please note that only learners who completed Literacy Matrix Competency 2-5 with the Lastinger Center for Learning in the updated curriculum/standards may be eligible for a stipend; this only includes competencies with course dates that began after July 1, 2023. If you began competencies prior to July 1, 2023, or took competencies outside of the Literacy Matrix, please contact Lastinger Learning Services for information on enrolling.
Stipend Application Guidelines
Applications for Literacy Matrix stipends for programs completed between July 1, 2025 and May 4, 2026:
Important – if you have not yet successfully applied for your Reading Endorsement with FDOE, please do so.
Payment Distribution
The stipend distribution method will be via JP Morgan Concourse (ACH/Zelle), using the email address you provided in your application.
The JP Morgan Concourse payment system supports both ACH (Direct Deposit) and Zelle payment options and requires only an email for transactions. There is no pre-payment account creation for Concourse. Once your stipend is sent, you will receive an email from donotreply@jpmorgan.com with instructions to register and accept the payment.
You will have 14 days to claim your payment once it is sent before the registration link expires. If the link expires, we will attempt to resend the payment to the same email address you provided. To avoid delays, please accept your payment promptly.
The University of Florida is not responsible for any erroneous payment information. You will not be asked to share your banking information with UF.
Each year, the University of Florida will enforce a Fiscal Year-end pause on all financial activity in June/July. This means stipend payment distributions are expected to pause in mid-June and return with the new fiscal beginning. If you are an eligible participant and not paid the stipend by this pause, your stipend will be distributed once the University resumes financial activity, estimated in mid to late July.
Stipends Application & Employment Verification
All applications will be reviewed in the order received by our Financial Services Team for eligibility determination according to the requirements. Our team will then reach out with next steps as needed.
At the end of the application, you must upload your most recent pay slip as verification of your employment at a K12 Local Educational Agency (LEA) public school, publicly funded charter school, or district. Contact your supervisor or school administration, if you need help downloading your paystub.
Recommended pay stub file types: PDF, PNG, JPG.
To be eligible for the stipend, you must complete all competencies, submit your stipend application to Lastinger Center, and apply for Reading Endorsement with FDOE within 30 days of course completion and no later than June 1, 2026, whichever comes first.
Stipends are only available for courses officially ending on or before May 4, 2026.
Please note, courses are only considered complete, and grading is only considered final, after the official end date of the course. If the official end date of your course is after May 4, 2026, you may not be eligible for a stipend at this time.
Remember to apply for the Reading Endorsement with Florida Department of Education Bureau of Educator Certification as early as possible; it is a requirement before stipend distribution can occur. If you apply for your endorsement through a local school district and not with FDOE directly, please expect significant delays in eligibility determinations.
Educators who already hold a Reading Endorsement from the past are not stipend eligible and only those who hold a valid Florida Department of Education (FDOE) Professional Certificate (EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION) that can have the reading endorsement added are stipend eligible. This means that exchange teacher certification holders, some temporary certificate holders, district certification holders, and others may not be eligible for the stipend; for questions about adding the Reading Endorsement please directly contact FDOE’s Bureau of Educator Certification.
By completing the application, you agree to the terms of payment and affirm eligibility upon completion of all requirements, aiding in verifying your eligibility, and that you and your employer must be eligible at the time of completion (Local Educational Agency (LEA) public school, publicly funded charter school, or district).
Application link coming in Fall 2025!
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