Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship
and Loan Repayment Program

The Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship and Loan Repayment program is designed to encourage outstanding students and paraprofessionals to become teachers, and to encourage current teachers to obtain additional endorsements in teacher 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 about 100 recipients in 2007-08.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this program, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a resident student of Washington state;
• Plan to complete an approved program leading to a residency teacher certificate or an additional shortage subject endorsement;
• Plan to be employed as a certificated classroom teacher in Washington K-12 public schools;
• Plan to attend an eligible college at least half-time (note: some online programs are not eligible for funding under this program); and
• You must not be pursuing or planning to pursue a degree in theology.

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

Applicants pursuing certificates or additional endorsements in math, science, or special education can receive priority in the selection process if they commit to teaching that subject in Washington K-12 public schools.  Math or science must be taught at grade 7 or higher to receive priority; special education may be taught at any grade level.

Applicants who receive priority during the selection process MUST teach those subjects in Washington K-12 public schools, or repay the money they received.

Awards

Conditional scholarships or loan repayments cannot exceed your tuition and fees OR the full-time resident undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of Washington - whichever is lower.

A participant will receive 50 percent of the annual benefit for half-time enrollment status and 75 percent of the annual benefit for three-quarter time enrollment status. Participants enrolled in a fourth quarter or third semester within a single academic year are eligible for additional benefits.

Participants must maintain continuous enrollment (one term off permitted per school year) in at least half-time status at an eligible institution.

Program awards can be received as conditional scholarships or loan repayments (see application form for more information about which type of award you may be eligible for).

How to Apply

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2007-08 Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship & Loan Repayment program.

The selection committee will meet in October and make decisions in mid-November. We will notify all applicants, successful and unsuccessful, by mail by November 30, 2007.


For more information contact:

Mary Knutson, program manager
Email: futureteachers@hecb.wa.gov
or
Phone: 360.753.7845 / Toll free: 1.888.535.0747 (option 2)

Note: If you are a teacher serving in a low-income or subject-matter shortage area, it might be possible for you to cancel or defer your federal student loans.  For more information, visit: U.S. Department of Education.

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