Scholarships and Funding
Through Arizona’s Master Teacher Program, funding is available for a limited number of scholarships for teachers to pursue National Board Certification. Teachers have three ways to qualify for this funding. They may:
- Teach in a Title I school
- Teach in a rural school
- Teach Special Education
- Teach middle or high school mathematics, science, or technology
- Teach at a school that meets two of the following criteria:
- Poverty level of 50% or higher (free and reduced lunch)
- 20% of the faculty has two or less full years of teaching experience at your school
- 15% or higher teacher turnover over the last three years at your school
- Any middle or high school
- Underperforming or not meeting AYP for two consecutive years
Teachers who are interested in pursuing this scholarship opportunity must complete a National Board Pre-Candidacy Class prior to the scholarship being awarded. These classes are typically offered free of charge in school districts throughout the state as well as IDEAL and the Arizona K12 Center. Upon completion of a Pre-candidacy class a teacher is eligible to apply for the scholarship. All scholarships are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Teachers who qualify for funding assistance are eligible for a full scholarship ($2500) if they complete a Pre-Candidacy Class, register for the AZK12 Center's National Board Summer Institute, and make the application for the AZK12 funds by May 31st. Qualifying teachers who complete a Pre-Candidacy Class but cannot attend the Arizona K12 Center's National Board Summer Institute and/or apply between June 1st and October 1st, will be eligible for a $2000 scholarship. Scholarship applications will not be accepted after October 1, 2010.
In addition, the Arizona Department of Education administers the National Board’s Candidate Subsidy Program. This program, funded by the United States Congress, pays up to one half of the candidate’s fee.
