VA

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VA Education Benefits
MGIB Benefits Briefing
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Objectives

• This presentation will provide
• A brief overview of VA education benefits
• Broader discussion on Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter
  33), relative to school specific concerns
• An update to current Chapter 33 payment issues
• (Information contained in this briefing was
  compiled from information provided by the Dept of
  Veterans Affairs and 38 CFR Part 21 Subpart P.
  Up-to-date information can be found at
  www.gibill.va.gov)

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Buffalos Jurisdiction14 Northeastern
StatesDistrict of ColumbiaForeign Schools
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Participants in VA Education Programs by Fiscal
Year (in thousands)
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Eligibility Program Basics
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VA Forms for Students
VA 22-1990 Application For VA Education Benefits
VA 22-1990t Application For Tutorial Assistance
VA 22-1995 Request Change of Program/Place of
Training VA-22-1990E Application for Transfer
of Entitlement Benefits VA-22-1990R Application
for VRAP Benefits Chapter 35 VA 22-5490
Application For Survivors And Dependents
Educational Assistance (also Fry
Scholarship) VA 22-5495 Request For Change Of
Program/Place Chapter 31 VA 28-1900
Application For Vocational and Rehabilitation
Benefits
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• Current Benefits Programs
• Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) / Transfer of
  Entitlement / John D. Fry Scholarship
• MGIB-Active Duty (Chapter 30)
• MGIB-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
• Reserve Education Assistance Program
  (Chapter 1607/REAP)
• Dependents Educational Assistance (Ch 35/DEA)
• VRAP
• Vocational Rehabilitation Employment
  (Chapter 31/VRE)

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Common Ground

• Eligibility is based, in part, on type of
  military service and honorable discharge.
• Up to 48 months of benefits.
• Programs of study at training sites must be
  approved for VA benefits.
• All degree programs at public and accredited
  non-profit schools are deemed approved for VA
  benefits.

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Common Ground (continued)

• Education Benefits may be used for
• College courses leading to a degree
• Business/technical/vocational courses leading to
  a certificate or diploma
• Tests for a license or certification
• Apprenticeship or OJT training
• Foreign schools (degree program only)

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Common Ground (continued)

• Correspondence courses
• Entrepreneurship courses
• Flight Training (private pilot excluded)
• Accelerated Pay (High Tech programs)
• Reimbursement for National Exams
• Tutorial assistance (if needed)
• Top-up (active duty only)

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• Entitlement
• The number of months and days of full-time
  benefits
• an individual originally receives or has
  remaining.
• Maximum of 36 months for MGIB programs / Post
  9/11 GI Bill (CH30 and CH33 entitlement may be
  extended to end of term).
• DEA (CH35) provides 45 months, VRE (CH31) 48
  months.
• Maximum of 48 months under any combination of
  programs (Example If a claimant used 36 months
  under MGIB chapter 30, they may use an additional
  12 months of CH 33 benefits).
• Entitlement charged based on Training Time (Rate
  of Pursuit for CH33) and the actual period the
  student attended.
• Entitlement was charged for all intervals between
  terms that were paid through 8/1/11.

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How Is Entitlement Charged?

• Full time Generally 12 or more undergraduate
• credits per standard term
• (commonly 4 courses _at_ 3 credits each )
• Term Dates
• Fall 08/25 thru 12/13 3 mos 19 days
• Interval 12/14 thru 01/25 1 mos 10 days
• Spring 01/26 thru 05/16 3 mos 21 days
• Full time training without interval pay 7 mos
  10 days
• (Interval pay ceased effective 7/31/2011)

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Entitlement Charge cont.

• Half time (or 50 ROP) 6 hrs per standard term
• (generally 2 courses _at_ 3 credits each )
• Term Dates
• Fall 08/25 thru 12/13 1 mos 24 days
• Interval 12/14 thru 01/25 0 mos 20 days
• Spring 01/26 thru 05/16 1 mos 26 days
• Half time training, no interval pay 3 mos 20
  days

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• Delimiting Date
• The first day after a claimant's period of
  eligibility expires.  Benefits are not payable on
  or after the delimiting date.
• Periods of eligibility vary by program.
• CH1606, CH1607 and CH35 Delimiting Dates may be
  extended to the end of the term.
• Delimiting Dates may be extended for a disability
  that prevented training.
• Extended for additional active duty of 90 days or
  more.

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Post - 9/11 GI Bill Eligibility Criteria And
Entitlement
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Changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill
As a result of Public Law 111-377 (Jan. 2011),
there were many changes to the Post 9/11 GI Bill
(Ch33). The broad changes affected the way
tuition fees are paid, eligibility
determinations, housing payments, etc. The
final regulations and processing procedures have
not yet been published. Information presented at
this time is subject to change. Updated
information can be found on the GI Bill website
at www.gibill.va.gov.
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Active Duty Service Requirements
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Ch33 Entitlement

• In general, individuals remain eligible for
  benefits for 15 years from date of last discharge
  of at least 90 continuous days (30 days if
  disability). Active duty members maintain
  eligibility while on active duty.
• Veterans receive a maximum of 36 months of
  benefits under CH33. (may extend to end of term)
• Entitlement limited to no more than 48 months of
  combined benefits under educational assistance
  programs administered by VA.
• NOTE Individuals transferring to the Post-9/11
  GI Bill from the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30)
  will be limited to the amount of remaining
  Chapter 30 entitlement, unless none remains.

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Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) Fry Scholarship
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Transfer of Entitlement

• DoD determines if an individual can transfer
  entitlement to one or more dependents
• Dependents eligible to receive entitlement
  include spouses and natural, adopted, or
  step-children.
• Transferees use entitlement in the same manner as
  the veteran. Changes to transferred entitlement
  can be made at any time by the veteran.
• Eligibility percentage levels may change with
  additional active duty service.
• Dependents file VAF 22-1990E to receive benefits.
• Note The fact that DoD permitted a transfer of
  entitlement to occur does not guarantee Chapter
  33 benefits can be paid.

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Transfer of EntitlementSpouses

• Spouses receive benefits in the same manner as
  the transferor (cant receive housing payments if
  transferor is on active duty)
• Period of eligibility is the same as the
  veteran 15 years from latest release from active
  duty
• Transferred MGIB entitlement cannot be treated
  as marital property, is not subject to division
  in divorce or civil proceeding
• Children
• Child must have completed high school (or the
  equivalent) or reached 18 years of age. Child
  always receive benefits like as a veteran.
• Entitlement not subject to the veterans 15 year
  delimiting date, but may not be used after
  reaching age 26.

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John D. Fry Scholarship

• Eligibility for children of an active duty member
  killed in the line of duty on or after September
  11, 2001.
• Will receive tuition fees payments, monthly
  housing allowance and the books supplies
  stipend at the 100 rate. (No Yellow Ribbon)
• All dependents receive 36 months of entitlement
  (not divided up from veterans entitlement like
  TOE)
• Also eligible for Ch35 benefits, must elect one
  of the two
• Dependents must file VA Form 22-5490 to receive
  benefits.

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Yellow Ribbon Program

• IHLs may voluntarily enter into an agreement with
  VA to allow the two parties to provide matching
  funds to cover a portion of the established
  charges above the annual cap for private schools
  or to cover the out-of-state portion of tuition.
• Only veterans and their dependents entitled to
  the 100 percent benefit rate (based on service
  requirements) may receive this funding.
• VA will match each additional dollar that an
  institution contributes toward an eligible
  students established charges, not to exceed 50
  of unmet allowable charges.
• Effective this year, Yellow Ribbon contracts are
  open ended and remain in effect until school
  wishes to modify or terminate. Check website
  (www.gibill.va.gov) for information.

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Post - 9/11 GI Bill Payments Changes
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Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit
Payments

• Net Tuition and Fees Charged
• Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
• Books and Supplies Stipend
• Kickers (also known as College Fund)
• Licensing and Certifications Test, National Exams
• Work Study
• Tutorial Assistance
• Refund of 1,200 MGIB Contribution
• (All payments are subject to Eligibility Level
  Percentages.)

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Charges Defined

• Established Tuition Charges-
• The actual tuition charge that similarly
  circumstanced non-veterans enrolled the program
  of education are required to pay.
• Fees-
• Any mandatory charges (other than tuition, room,
  board) applied for pursuit of an approved
  program
• Study Abroad Fees are not payable under Ch33
  unless the courses are required for the degree
  program. Travel costs are never payable.

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Tuition Fees Changes

• Effective Aug. 1, 2011 for Veterans Their
  Transferees
• Simplified tuition and fees rates for those
  attending public schools creates a national
  annual maximum rate for those enrolled in private
  schools
• Pays all public school net in-state tuition and
  fees
• Private school reimbursable costs are capped
  annually (Aug. 1st to July 31st) Training at
  less than half-time not counted toward cap
• Yellow Ribbon Program remains for out-of-state
  charges and costs that exceed the private school
  cap.
• Payments made based on Net Charges subject to
  proration based
• on Eligibility Tier (i.e. 40 - 100)

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Tuition Fees Changes

• Net Charges
• VA was previously considered First Payer for
  tuition and fees reporting purposes. Effective
  August 1, 2011, schools must report the net cost
  of tuition and fees after deducting
• Any waiver of, or reduction in Tuition and Fees
  and
• Any scholarship, or other Federal, State,
  institutional, or employer based aid that is
  provided directly to the school towards tuition
  and fees
• Title IV Funds (Pell Grants and Federal Loans)
  are excluded from net charge assessments.
• Effective July 2009, no VA education benefits
  can be considered when calculating EFC or as an
  outside resouce for Financial Aid purposes

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2011-2012 Tuition Fees Cap
Eligibility Tier Max TF Payable/Year
100 17,500 90 15,750
80 14,000 70 12,250
60 10,500 50 8,750
40 7,000 In general, VA will pay the
lesser of the net TFs or the individuals
annual cap rate for all Ch33 students
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2012-2013 Tuition Fees Cap
Eligibility Tier Max TF Payable/Year
100 18,077.50 90
16,269.75 80 14,462.00 70
12,654.25 60 10,846.50 50
9,038.75 40 7,231.00 In
general, VA will pay the lesser of the net TFs
or the individuals annual cap rate for all Ch33
students
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Changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill

• Reporting Tuition and Fees
• For each enrollment period, report actual net
  cost for tuition and fees to VA
• Tuiton and Fees 5,000.00
• School Veteran Tuition Waiver
  (500.00)
• Private Tuition Scholarship
  (500.00)
• NYS VTA Waiver
• NYS TAP Waiver
• Net Tuition and Fees
  4,000.00
• Report report 4,000.00 to VA as the TFs for
  this term. If the student received any Title IV
  funds or assistance not specifically designated
  for the payment of tuition and fees No need to
  deduct from the amount reported to VA.

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Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act Grandfather
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Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act Grandfathering
Eligibility

• The new legislation authorizes VA to pay more
  than 17,500 (or the appropriately reduced amount
  based on the students eligibility percentage) in
  tuition and fees under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for
  certain students attending private colleges and
  universities
• To qualify for the increased payment (also
  referred to as the grandfathered tuition and
  fee amount), students must have been enrolled in
  the same college or university since January 4,
  2011, and have been enrolled in a program for
  which the combined amount of tuition and fees for
  full-time attendance during the 2010-2011
  academic year (Aug. 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011)
  exceeded 17,500.

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Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act Grandfathering
Eligibility

• Eligible students will receive the
  grandfathered rate for tuition and fees for all
  terms that begin before August 1, 2014, as long
  as they are continuously enrolled at the same
  institution. If they transfer to a different
  institution, even if its located in the same
  state, they will no longer qualify for the
  grandfathered rate.
• School certifying officials will need to submit
  an enrollment certification or amended enrollment
  certification to VA with remarks stating Student
  eligible for restored rates to verify that the
  student was enrolled in that school since January
  4, 2011 and that the tuition and fees for
  full-time attendance in that program exceeded
  17,500 during the 2010-2011 academic year.

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Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011 Tuition
Fees Rates

• State Max Tuition Max Fees
• New Hampshire 1003.75/credit 5,197.00
• New York 1010.00/credit 12,293.00
• Pennsylvania 934.00/credit 6,110.00

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Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) Books Supplies
Stipend
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Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)

• Rate is equivalent to Basic Allowance for Housing
  (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents
• Locality rate determined by zip code of the
  facility code of the IHL where the student is
  enrolled (www.gibill.va.gov).
• Payment is prorated based on the students
  Eligibility Tier. (i.e. 40 to 100)
• Effective 8/1/11, MHA will be prorated based on
  ROP, rounded to the nearest 10th.

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Books Supplies Stipend

• Maximum payment of 1,000 per year
• 41.67 per credit hour (at the 100 rate)
• Up to 24 credits in a single academic year
• Lump sum payment (each quarter, semester or term
  attended) based on the number of credits
  originally certified for.
• Prorated based on the Eligibility Percentage
  Level.
• Active duty members (and TOE spouses of active
  duty members) are eligible effective 10/1/11)
• Note Benefit payments are paid directly to
  the student.

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Miscellaneous Payments

• VA Work-Study
• Eligible individuals pursuing training at ROP of
  at least 75 may receive work-study allowance.
  (3/4 TT)
• Must perform veteran related work
• Hourly wage is higher of state or federal minimum
  wage. (Non-taxable income.)
• Tutorial Assistance
• Must be training at ROP of at least 50
• Amount payable cant exceed 100/month.
• 1,200 lifetime maximum, no entitlement charge.

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Rate of Pursuit (ROP) Equivalent Credit Hours
(ECH)
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Rate of Pursuit (ROP)

• The measure of training time obtained by dividing
  the number of credit hours (or clock hour
  equivalent) a student is enrolled in by the
  number of credit hours (or clock hour equivalent)
  considered to be full-time at the school (or what
  is considered Graduate Full-Time). The resulting
  percentage (rounded to the nearest hundredth)
  will be the individuals Rate of Pursuit.
• Rate of Pursuit will determine the entitlement
  charged for an award period and will determine if
  the Monthly Housing Allowance will be paid (must
  be training at Rate of Pursuit greater than 50).
• Greater than 50 ROP would normally be 7 or more
  credits taken during a standard semester (15-19
  weeks) or standard quarter (10-13 weeks).
• Example
• Student is taking 7 credits for a standard
  semester
• ROP 7 / 12 .58 or 58
• For Non-Standard term (or summer session), VA
  will calculate Equivalent Credit Hours (ECH) and
  use that to determine Rate of Pursuit.

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ECH Calculation

• To determine the Equivalent Credit Hours of a
  non-standard term
• semester credits taken multiplied by 18 divided
  by number of weeks
• quarter credits taken multiplied by 12 divided
  by number of weeks
• (round up partial weeks if 4 days or more)
• Example
• Non-standard term dates June 1, 2010 to July
  27, 2010 _at_ 3 credits
• Calculate term length 57 days / 7 8 weeks and
  1 day 8 weeks
• Calculate ECH (sem school) - (3 cr x 18) / 8
  6.75 ECH
• Calculate ROP 6.75 ECH / 12 (normal FT
  measurement) .56 or 56
• MONTHLY HOUSING IS PAID at the 60 level
• __________________________________________________
  __________________
• Non-standard term dates June 1, 2010 to July
  27, 2010 _at_ 3 credits
• Calculate term length 57 days / 7 8 weeks and
  1 day 8 weeks
• Calculate ECH (qtr school) - (3 cr x 12) / 8
  4.5 ECH
• Calculate ROP 4.5 ECH / 12 (normal FT
  measurement) .38 or 38
• NO MONTHLY HOUSING IS PAID

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Reporting to VA Enrollment, Changes, Probation
Graduation
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Zero Tuition

• If net tuition and fees are unknown, schools may
  report the term dates, actual credit hours, and
  enter 0.00 for these charges
• This permits the students to receive timely
  housing and books supplies stipend payments
• Also allows for financial aid to be resolved
  prior to submitting cert
• MUST submit amended cert, effective FDOT to
  ensure accurate payment when net TFs are reported

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Mini or Summer Terms

• Summer Session A 05/15/2012 to 06/16/2012 _at_ 3
  cr.
• Summer Session B 06/18/2012 to 07/20/2012 _at_ 3
  cr.
• Summer Session C 06/18/2012 to 08/15/2012 _at_ 3
  cr.
• Tuition Fees are billed for the entire summer
  session. Tuition
• for the summer term is 5400. (600 per hour)
  Fees are 500.
• --------------------------------------------------
  --------------------------------------------------
  --------------------------------------------------
  --------------------------------------------------
  ------------------------------------
• Begin End Crs. Tuition Fees
• 05/15/2012 06/16/2012 3 1800.00 166.67
• 06/18/2012 07/20/2012 3 1800.00 166.67
• 06/18/2012 08/15/2012 3 1800.00 166.66
• By certifying as above, VA will issue payments
  that accurately reflect the cost of each term.
  (Critical for changes of status.)

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Reporting Reductions and Terminations

• The Certifying Official must notify the VA within
  30 days of discovery if one of the following
  occurs
•     If the net charges change.
• If the trainee withdraws from training.
•    If the trainee does not progress
  satisfactorily according to approved standards
  and practices of your facility.
•     When the trainee changes credit or clock
  hours of training, even during drop/add.
• If the trainee receives non-punitive grades.
• When the trainee graduates.

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Debts Enrollment Change

• If a student attends a portion of the term, but
  doesnt complete it as certified, schools should
  follow their established refund policy
• For reductions, refunds should be given directly
  to the student. The fact the school refunded
  money has no bearing on the VA payment. VA will
  pay for the time attended. (Even during Drop/Add)
• Refunds for partial attendance should be returned
  to VA in accordance with VA policy. (handout
  available)
• The student is responsible for any debts incurred
  to VA as the result of a change in enrollment
  within a term.

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Financial Aid Concerns
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FAFSA Veterans

• Veterans less familiar with Financial Aid
  process. If military path is chosen in high
  school, they likely dont participate in
  traditional college preparation
• 1 day of active duty (Title 10) satisfies the
  definition of veteran.
• If veteran status is not confirmed by VA data
  match, ask student to provide copy of DD214, then
  do a dependency override.
• Eligibility criteria for Ch33 different from VTA

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Financial Aid Issues

• Effective July 2009, VA education benefits cant
  be considered when calculating EFC or COA for
  Federal Financial Aid purposes. This includes
  TFs payments, monthly housing payments, etc.
• Ch33 payments to schools are not tuition specific
  funds and can be refunded to the student when
  appropriate.
• If qualifying tuition specific funds are received
  after net TFs have been reported to VA, you must
  inform the School Certifying Official (SCO) at
  your school.
• The SCO must then report an amended certification
  to VA. The amount in question will become school
  debt if VA payment has been made.

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Vet Friendly Ideas

• Waived application fees
• Priority registration
• Deferred tuition payments
• Automatic established residency for veterans
• Veteran organizations on campus
• Remember that some gave all and all gave some

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Available Resources
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WWW.GIBILL.VA.GOV
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Education Training Assistance

• Visit the official VA education benefits site at
  www.gibill.va.gov
• Call VA at 1-888-GI BILL-1
• (1-888-442-4551)
• NEW! Certifying Official Line
• 1-855-225-1159
• must be designated SCO provide facility code
  

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School Certifying Official Handbook VA-Once
Flip Book (Find both in School Section at
www.gibill.va.gov)
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Submit a Question
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section.
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questions. (One student per inquiry.)

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• Written responses
• Question and Answer History

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• Questions?