Make Your Teacher Preparation Affordable
Explore loan forgiveness programs.
If you are willing to commit to teaching in high-demand schools or subjects like math, science and special education for a few years after you graduate, the federal government has created programs to forgive some or all of the loans that students acquire while in school. Learn more about these programs.
Apply for teacher training scholarships.
There are many scholarships and financial aid opportunities available to future teachers in Kansas City. You just have to know where to look!
Get started with the currently featured scholarships on our scholarships page, browse our national scholarship database, and check back often for updates.
Get your training as part of your undergraduate education.
You can avoid having to pay tuition for a graduate school program by completing all of the coursework and training that you need to become a certified teacher as part of your bachelor’s degree.
Head over to the Programs page to read more about your options.
Earn a salary while completing your coursework.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree, but haven’t completed a teacher preparation program, you can explore alternative certification programs that allow you to take coursework while you start working in the classroom.
Some programs follow a hands-on “residency” program, like Kansas City Teacher Residency, where you may earn a stipend as a teacher-in-training before leading a classroom, while others provide an opportunity to work as a full-time teacher once you complete your pre-service training.
Explore different pathways to certification, or start your search for specific programs.
Apply for other scholarships and financial aid.
In addition to what you will find in the TEACH.org database, there’s a whole universe of other scholarship, financial aid and loan opportunities relevant for anyone pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees across the U.S., or in a specific state, region or university.
For example, if you're at least 24 years old with some college under your belt, you might want to apply for the KC Scholars program, specifically designed for adults who want to go back to school.
Key Vocabulary
A scholarship is a direct payment made to the student or the institution that student is attending. It is a set amount of funds awarded on the basis of academic or other achievement or financial need, along with demonstrated success and interest in specific areas defined by the scholarship.
- Scholarships
A scholarship is a direct payment made to the student or the institution that student is attending. It is a set amount of funds awarded on the basis of academic or other achievement or financial need, along with demonstrated success and interest in specific areas defined by the scholarship.
- Loans
A loan is a sum of money that can be used to help finance the cost of your education and is expected to be paid back with interest after you graduate. If loans are needed to pay for college, many students first take loans from the federal government because they tend to have more favorable rates, and then take private loans from a bank if they have maxed out on federal loans and still need additional funds.
- Loan Forgiveness
If a student commits to teaching for a set period of time, oftentimes in a certain geography, subject, or grade level, they can avoid having to pay some or all of their loans. Because they can be for substantial amounts, loan forgiveness is among the highest quality/value financing opportunities for handling the cost of education. However, each program varies so it is critical that candidates understand the specific requirements for the type of loans and amounts that can be forgiven, as well as the teaching commitment they must fulfill.
- Eligibility
Eligibility is the basic criteria you must meet in order to be able to apply for an opportunity such as a scholarship, grant, internship, or loan forgiveness program.
- Application Process
To be considered for a scholarship, loan forgiveness, or other opportunity, you must proceed with the application process, which usually includes an application composed of a form or collection of forms. Additional materials, like recommendation letters, school transcripts, and other documents that determine your eligibility, may also be required.
FAQs
- Do you have information on resources outside of the US?
TEACH.org currently only provides support and information for opportunities specific to those seeking teaching opportunities within the United States.
- When do I receive the funding and what can I use it for?
If you have been awarded a scholarship or grant, depending on the terms of that award, you may receive it directly or it may be directly distributed to the institution that you are attending to offset tuition costs. Other opportunities, such as loan forgiveness, may be distributed in other ways like directly reflected in the remaining balance of your loans. Each method of distribution is unique to the opportunity and you will find additional details for each specific process on the information page or original website for each opportunity itself.
- How and when do I need to apply to these opportunities?
Most scholarship, grant, and internship opportunities have specific deadlines that are available on their information page and website. Usually these pages also provide instructions to aid you in the application process.
- Are there special scholarships and opportunities that are relevant to my situation (e.g., diversity, region I'm from, where/what I want to teach, etc...)?
Yes, through TEACH.org’s search tool you can select specific criteria unique to you such as your location, background, subject(s) of interest, and other details that may qualify you for opportunities that are most relevant to your situation.
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