State Teacher Assistance Resource (STAR)
STAR Forgivable Loan (Applications accepted February 1, 2008, to June 1, 2008.)
STAR provides forgivable loans to students seeking an initial teacher license who commit to teaching in designated subject and/or geographic shortage areas in Arkansas after completion of licensure requirements. STAR loans are $3000 to $6000 per academic year for a maximum of two (2) to three (3) years, depending on length of program. Recipients must teach in an Arkansas public school in a designated subject and/or geographic shortage area one (1) year for each year of STAR funding received
STAR Repayment Grant (Applications accepted March 1, 2008, to May 1, 2008.)
If funds are available, current teachers may receive assistance in repayment of federal student loans in the amount of $3000 to $6000 per year for a maximum of three (3) years. Applicants must be licensed teachers who graduated from a teacher education program after April 1, 2004, and teach in an Arkansas public school in a designated subject and/or geographic shortage area. STAR Forgivable Loan recipients are not eligible to apply for a STAR Repayment Grant.
Minority Teacher Scholars Program (MTSP)
(Applications accepted February 1, 2008, to June 1, 2008.)
MTSP provides forgivable loans to undergraduate level minority students seeking an initial teacher license. Recipients may receive MTSP for a maximum of four (4) semesters or six (6) trimesters. Recipients may receive $5,000 per academic year and must teach in an Arkansas public school for five (5) years after completing teacher license requirements. The teaching obligation may be reduced to three (3) years for designated subject and/or geographic shortage areas.
Minority Masters Fellows (MMF)
(Applications accepted February 1, 2008, to June 1, 2008.)
MMF provides forgivable loans to graduate level minority students. Recipients may receive a maximum of $7,500 and may enroll as either full-time or part-time students. Recipients must teach in an Arkansas public school or public institution of higher education for two (2) years after completion of their Masters program. This shall be in addition to any teaching obligation the recipient may have to fulfill based on receipt of other funds.
*See www.adhe.edu for the complete list of eligibility requirements, teaching obligations, and the most up-to-date information for each of the above programs. For more information, call (501) 371-2000 or (800) 547-8839 or email finaid@adhe.edu.
The below minority program is administered by the University of Pine Bluff but is available to ALL minority students attending other higher education institutions in Arkansas.
Arkansas Geographical Critical Needs Minority Scholarship
www.uapb.edu
Provides financial assistance to minority students attending any public or private institution of higher education in Arkansas with an approved teacher education program. Recipients must teach in the Arkansas Delta region after completion of licensure program.
*Contact: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Education at (870) 575-8261
March 19 is the deadline for college juniors, seniors, and graduates as well as community college graduates to apply for generous Robert Noyce Scholarships offering up to $10,000 a year to study math and science. In exchange for the scholarships, students will agree to commit to teaching math or science in an Arkansas school district.
The program, funded by the National Science Foundation, offers undergraduate scholarships of $7,500 for a student’s first year in the program and $8,500 for the second year for students making adequate progress towards graduation. Graduate students, who possess a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, science, engineering, or technology can receive a one-year $10,000 stipend for working towards a graduate degree in education that leads to licensure.
“The purpose of the NSF Noyce Scholars at UALR program is to recruit potential students into becoming highly qualified teachers of mathematics and/or science. Noyce Scholars make a commitment to teach two years in a high-need school district for every year they accept the award,” said Dr. Sally A. Robison, director of the National Science Foundation-funded program at UALR. “This is an opportunity to help improve the quality of math and science education in Arkansas K-12 schools.”
The money can be spent on tuition, books, living expenses, and other costs of going to school.
For more information, call 501.569.8109