The History of Teacher Scholarships
Scholarships have been awarded from times immemorial to help students cover their tuition, fees, books and average cost of room and meals. In fact, in the Gurukul system of education in ancient India, the students lived in a residential set up and were provided with all their basic needs during the period of learning. Most of these students grew up to be teachers themselves. Scholarships for teachers have also existed in the Western world since the inception of the formal educational system.
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First Scholarships
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Many rich individuals and private organizations have been providing financial support to bright students who could not afford formal education, but this form of assistance did not have formal documentation. The Oxford and Rhodes Foundation is oldest educational fellowship and was started in 1902. Rotary International, a private foundation, has been awarding scholarships since 1947 to students who spend at least three to five months teaching abroad.
Scholarships for Minorities
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The Indiana General Assembly created the Minority Teacher Scholarship in 1988 to increase the number of black and Hispanic teachers in the state. The students should be Indiana residents, demonstrate the financial need and should teach in an accredited Indiana elementary or secondary school upon graduation. Several other states, such as Florida and Illinois, have similar programs to address the shortage of teachers from minority communities.
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Congressional Scholarships
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Congress passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act in 2007 and created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education. This grant program awards up to $4,000 each year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school in low-income neighborhoods. U.S. citizens who are enrolled in coursework that will prepare them to be teachers can apply for this grant. Identified teacher shortage areas, such as mathematics, bilingual education, science and special education, may be preferred.
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References
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