Southeast Missouri State University has received $14,700 from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to continue its transitional middle-school certification program in 1996-97.

Twenty-three institutions participate in the program, which provides course work to contracted Missouri public school teachers in fifth through ninth grades so they can meet certification requirements.

This is the last year for the program.

This year's allocation allows Southeast to provide 144 semester hours of financial assistance. Under the program, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reimburses Southeast for the tuition of teachers enrolled in the program.