Oklahoma Future Teachers Scholarship and Employment Incentive
Program ("Inspired to Teach")
The Oklahoma Future Teachers Scholarship and Employment
Incentive Program ("Inspired to Teach") was established by the
Oklahoma legislature as an incentive to encourage the preparation
of teachers in the public schools of Oklahoma.
Scholarship Component
Eligibility
In order to qualify for the "Inspired to Teach" program,
applicants must:
- Graduate from an Oklahoma high school.
- Meet higher education admission standards at: 1) a public or
private Oklahoma university with an accredited Oklahoma teacher
education program, or 2) a community college with an approved
articulation agreement with an accredited Oklahoma university
teacher education program.
- Declare a major in an accredited Oklahoma university teacher
education program with a degree leading to a standard teaching
certificate or declare a major at a community college with an
approved "Inspired to Teach" articulation agreement with an
accredited Oklahoma teacher education program leading to a standard
Oklahoma teaching certificate.
- Be enrolled as a full-time (12 credit hours per semester)
undergraduate student each semester of eligibility in the
program.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and a minimum 2.5
GPA throughout matriculation.
- Prior to entry into the "Inspired to Teach" program, the
student shall agree to complete the Oklahoma teacher preparation
education program and agree to teach in an Oklahoma public
prekindergarten through 12th grade (PK-12) school for a minimum of
five (5) consecutive years upon graduation and licensure as a
teacher.
Application Process
- Applicants must apply through their institution's "Inspired to
Teach" Program Coordinator.
- Application deadlines are established by OSRHE each semester
and typically fall shortly after enrollment lock-in.
- Institutions will submit scholarship applications to OSRHE, and
will certify continuing eligibility for their current participants
each semester.
- OSRHE will notify institutions and participants of awards.
Amount of Scholarship
The "Inspired to Teach" scholarship is a tiered award system
dependent on the hours earned toward the degree:
Award Tier |
Enrollment |
Hours Completed toward Baccalaureate Degree |
Annual Maximum Award |
I. |
Full-Time |
Min. 12 Hours Enrolled |
$1,000 |
II. |
Full-Time |
24-47 Hours Earned |
$1,000 |
III. |
Full-Time |
48-89 Hours Earned |
$1,000 |
IV. |
Full-Time* |
> 90 Hours Earned |
$2,500 |
*Students completing their student teaching internship will
automatically be considered enrolled full-time for the purpose of
this program. Full-time enrollment is considered at least 12 hours
of undergraduate enrollment each semester for the purpose of this
program. Students with an approved accommodation on file with their
institution's Disabilities Office may participate in the program if
enrolled less than full-time. Documentation of the approved
accommodation must be submitted to OSRHE.
Employment Incentive Component
Eligibility
In order to qualify for the employment incentive portion of the
program, participants must:
- Apply and continually participate in the "Inspired to Teach"
scholarship program prior to completing the teacher education
preparation degree.
- Complete graduation requirements for a teacher education
preparation degree program.
- Complete the Oklahoma standard teaching certification
process.
- Secure employment teaching in an Oklahoma public Pre-K-12
school district within 13 months of graduating college.
Amount of Incentive Payment
Eligible participants will receive up to $4,000 after each year of
completed service teaching in an Oklahoma public school district
for up to five years (for a maximum possible $20,000 in incentive
payments over the five-year period).
Resources
I2T FAQ Doc
I2T Institutional
Program Coordinator List
For Further Information
www.inspired2teachOK.org
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
800.858.1840 (405.225.9239 Oklahoma City area)
futureteachers@osrhe.edu