Much of the debate surrounding college these days involves the ability to find a job after graduation. One profession in high demand is teachers — nearly every state reports teacher shortages to the U.S. Department of Education, according to a 2016 report by the Learning Policy Institute. According to the report, one way to address the teacher shortage is through scholarships for prospective teachers.
For those planning to pursue a career in education, several organizations already offer financial help to prospective teachers.
[Check out where to find scholarships for educators.]
The Zeta National Education Foundation Inc. offers the Isabel M. Herson Scholarship in Education to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing degrees in elementary or secondary education. Applicants must provide proof of enrollment.
The award amount varies from $500 to $1,000 and is for one academic year. Applications for this year are closed, but check the site for deadline updates.
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics annually offers the $3,000 Prospective Middle School Mathematics Teacher Course Work Scholarship . The 2017-18 scholarship will be awarded to a current college junior who will graduate by Aug. 31, 2018.
Applicants, who must be student members of the council, are required to submit a plan for completing their course work and evidence of past academic success and their commitment to becoming a certified middle school math teacher. The application deadline is May 5.
The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association awards STEM Teacher Graduate S cholarships that range from $2,500 to $5,000. Applicants must be pursuing graduate degrees or credentialing to teach science, technology, engineering or math in grades K-12 in the U.S. They must also be U.S. citizens. The deadline to apply is April 22.
[Save money with scholarships for graduate school students.]
The American Association of Physics Teachers grants the Barbara Lotze Scholarships for Future Teachers to students who plan to teach high school physics. Winners receive a $2,000 stipend and a student membership in the association.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and may be high school seniors or undergrads. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis — those received by Dec. 1 are eligible for consideration at the AAPT executive board’s winter meeting.
The American Association for Employment Education devotes the Janice Jones Scholarship to helping address the shortage of teachers in key fields, including English as a second language, mathematics, physics, chemistry and all special education categories.
The $800 award is open to full-time students enrolled in teacher prep programs at accredited universities that are AAEE members. Check the website for updates on the next application cycle deadline.
[Check out careers that offer student loan forgiveness.]
The Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship awarded each year to students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate education programs who demonstrate academic potential and dedication to the idea of voluntary unions. The award is administered by the National Institute for Labor Relations Research and named after three Michigan teachers the institute says were fired for refusing to pay union dues.
Applicants must include a brief essay on Right to Work laws and principles as they apply to teachers. The application period is Oct. 1-Dec. 31.
Finally, students should keep in mind that loan forgiveness programs are available for teachers who don’t receive enough in scholarship aid to cover their full undergraduate or graduate degree. Be sure to review the Federal Student Aid website for more information on these programs.
The ultimate test, of course, is in finding the right scholarship for prospective teachers to reduce the burden that student loans can place on new entrants to the field. The above scholarships can help fill in the blanks on that exam.
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Scholarships Help Address Teacher Shortage originally appeared on usnews.com
