Guidelines for the OK Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Incentive Program
(“Inspired to Teach” Program)
Eligibility Requirements
The Oklahoma Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Incentive Program (“Inspired to Teach”) is a program to support the teacher pipeline and the preparation of public-school teachers for prekindergarten through 12th grade. As legislatively appropriated funding is available, the Program provides a scholarship to eligible students majoring in teacher education at an accredited teacher preparation program at an Oklahoma public or private university OR a student majoring in a pre-teacher education program at an Oklahoma community college that has an approved “Inspired to Teach” Program articulation agreement with an accredited Oklahoma university teacher preparation program (separate agreement form required), and incentivizes those individuals to enter the workforce as Oklahoma public school teachers for at least five (5) consecutive years upon graduation.
Requirements of the “Inspired to Teach” Program
The participant 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” Program 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 scholarship eligibility until degree is obtained.
► 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 certification as a teacher.
General Process for Participant Entry into the “Inspired to Teach” Program:
Step 1: The candidate will meet with the point of contact, the “Inspired to Teach” Program Coordinator, at the institution’s School of Education or community college pre-education department to receive the “Inspired to Teach” Participant Agreement.
*This paperwork can only be filled out on campus through the “Inspired to Teach” Program Coordinator.
Step 2: The candidate will complete the Participation Agreement, providing information that reflects their eligibility for meeting all program requirements and guidelines. The Program Coordinator will verify that the student has a declared major in a teacher education degree program and number of enrolled course hours (minimum 12-credit hours per semester).
Step 3: After the candidate completes the Participant Agreement, including student signature and contact information, the original paperwork will be returned to the Program Coordinator who will sign off on the form.
Step 4: The Program Coordinator will facilitate program in-take and submit Participant Agreements in O-Safe. In particular, the Program Coordinator will communicate and work with Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) staff to ensure effective transfer of documents and required information.
Step 5: Once students are awarded, they are responsible for maintaining eligibility status and submitting any changes in their personal contact information to the OSRHE.
Step 6: The institutions will disburse funds to student accounts for Fall and Spring semesters.
NOTE: Students who are enrolled in Teacher Shortage Employment Incentive Program (TSEIP) will need to visit with the “Inspired to Teach” Program Coordinator at the Educator Preparation Program for more information about changing over to the new program.
FOR FURTHER INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT VIA EMAIL: futureteachers@osrhe.edu