Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship
and Loan Repayment Program (2009-2010)

The Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship and Loan Repayment program encourages outstanding students and paraprofessionals to become teachers, and assists current teachers in obtaining additional endorsements in shortage subjects.

In return for conditional scholarships or loan repayments, participants agree to teach in Washington K-12 public schools, (usually two years of teaching for each year of funding). Funding is available for approximately 100 recipients in 2009-10.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this program, you must:

• Be a resident student of the state of Washington.
• Plan to complete an approved program leading to a residency teacher certificate or an additional shortage subject endorsement.
• Plan to attend an eligible college at least half-time.
  (Note: some online programs are ineligible for funding under
  this program.)
• Not be pursuing or planning to pursue a degree in theology.
• Plan to be employed as a certificated classroom teacher in Washington K-12 public schools.
• Submit a complete application to us by the deadline.

A selection committee will consider each applicant's:

• Academic ability
• Bilingual ability
• Contributions to school systems
• Potential to serve as a positive role model for students
• Length of time until completion of the educational program
• Commitment to serve as a Washington public classroom teacher
• Recommendation letters
• Essay question responses

Priority

The 2009-10 priority subjects are:

    -  Math

    -  Science

    -  Special Education

    -  Agricultural Education

    -  Business and Marketing Education

    -  Family and Consumer Science Education

    -  Technology Education

Applicants pursuing residency teaching certificates or additional endorsements in one of these subjects are eligible to receive priority in the selection process (and may accept or decline that priority).

• Eligible applicants who accept priority must teach that subject in Washington K-12 public schools to fulfill their teaching obligation, or repay the money they received.
• Eligible applicants who decline priority can teach any subject in Washington K-12 public schools to fulfill their teaching obligation.
• Special education may be taught at any grade level to receive priority.
• All other subjects must be taught at 7th grade or higher to receive priority.

Award Amounts

NOTES: 

- Half-time enrollment receives 50% of the full-time benefit.

- Three-quarter time enrollment receives 75% of the full-time
   benefit.

- Awards are based on current enrollment in 2009-10.

- Every award requires a specific number of qualified teaching
   days in a Washington K-12 public school.

Future Teachers is a financial aid program. To earn program benefits, all program participants must be enrolled at an eligible institution in 2009-10 in at least half-time status and maintain continuous enrollment (only one term off per school year).

How to Apply

2010-11 program information will be posted here summer 2010.

For more information, contact:

Mary Knutson, Program Manager

E-mail: futureteachers@hecb.wa.gov

Phone: 360.753.7845 / Toll free: 1.888.535.0747 (option 2)

_______________________________________________

Other Opportunities for Teachers

Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification Conditional Scholarship - To help school districts recruit teachers in subject matter and geographic areas with a teacher shortage.

TEACH Grant Program - Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.

Contact the U.S. Department of Education if you are a teacher serving in a low-income or subject-matter shortage area, you may be eligible for a cancellation or deferment of your federal student loans through a federal program. 

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