Critical Needs Teacher
Scholarship Program (State of Mississippi)
This is a new program
(1998) designed to attract students interested in teaching as a career to critical
needs geographical areas in Mississippi where the supply of certified teachers
is extremely limited. The program will pay part or all of college education
expenses (freshman through senior year) as long as required service is met in
one of the shortage area school districts specified by the state. This list
is updated annually and in 1999-2000 included specified school districts in
25 counties. Scholarship covers tuition, fees, the average cost of student
housing and meals, and $500 toward books.
Eligibility Requirements
(subject to change without prior notification):
- Enrolled full-time
or part-time in a program leading to a Class "A" teaching license
- Applicants who
have earned less than 12 semester hours of college credit must have a composite
ACT score of 18 and a cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 (4.0 scale) or higher.
Applicants with more than 12 hours of college credit must have a cumulative
2.5 GPA or higher.
- Full-time students
(minimum of 12 credit hours per semester) may receive a maximum of four annual
awards.
- Part-time students
(less than 12 credit hours per semester) may receive a maximum of six annual
awards.
- Recipients
must maintain an annual 2.5 GPA in a teacher education program leading to
a Class "A" standard teaching license to receive the annual renewal for the
program.
- Discharge of
obligation is 3 years' teaching service in one of the specified critical teacher
shortage areas for 4 years' scholarship award. Lesser periods are one year
of service for one year of scholarship award. Failure to meet the teaching
service requirement will result in immediate repayment plus interest.
- There is no
required residency rule, so program applies to in-state and out-of-state students.
- Program
is open to all that qualify academically and apply by the annual deadline
regardless of income level. Total number of awards and recipients are dependent
upon availability of funds. Awards are made on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED
BASIS.
- Application
deadline is established each year. In the past, the deadline has been April
1. Call the Mississippi Office of State Financial Aid at 1-800-327-2980 or
(601) 432-6997 or e-mail at sfa@ihl.state.ms.us
for application deadline and application materials.
- Persons
receiving funds from this program are not eligible for other state financial
aid programs.
Mississippi
Teacher Center (for further information)
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