Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program
Delaware Department of Education
Developed by the Delaware Department of Education, the Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program originated in honor of Christa McAuliffe, who was a high school teacher in North Hampshire. High school seniors and undergraduate students, who are legal residents of Delaware and want to eventually pursue a career in education are considered eligible for this chance.
The Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program selects one student every year to be awarded $5,000 to go towards their undergraduate tuition. The amount is also renewable for up to three years if a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is maintained by the student. It can be used for your tuition, mandatory fees, and other direct educational expenses.
Areas that require an increase of teachers have been identified by the Delaware Department of Education which include bilingual, math, and more. Providing such areas with more teachers is what this program is aiming to do. If teaching is your career path and you want to ultimately impact the field of education then this opportunity is for you.
Scholarship Summary
Developed by the Delaware Department of Education, the Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program originated in honor of Christa McAuliffe, who was a high school teacher in North Hampshire. High school seniors and undergraduate students, who are legal residents of Delaware and want to eventually pursue a career in education are considered eligible for this chance.
The Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program selects one student every year to be awarded $5,000 to go towards their undergraduate tuition. The amount is also renewable for up to three years if a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is maintained by the student. It can be used for your tuition, mandatory fees, and other direct educational expenses.
Areas that require an increase of teachers have been identified by the Delaware Department of Education which include bilingual, math, and more. Providing such areas with more teachers is what this program is aiming to do. If teaching is your career path and you want to ultimately impact the field of education then this opportunity is for you.
Eligibility Requirements
- Eligible Grade: High School Senior – Undergraduate
- Maximum Age: Any
- Required GPA: 3.0
- Geographic Eligibility: Delaware
- Gender: Any
- Race/Ethnicity: Any
Key Information of Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program
Study Details
Area of Study
Education
Country of Study
United States
Specific Schools
Any
Application Requirements
Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.
- Grade transcript
- Standardized Test Scores
Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program Timeline
January 2023
Application Opening Date
Applications open on January 1.
May 2023
Submission Deadline
The submission deadline is on May 20.
How to ace the Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program
Emphasize your extracurriculars
A strong academic background is definitely appreciated but a variety of extracurricular activities act as the cherry on top of your application. Whether you’ve participated in activities in or out of school, include everything from every award, honor, and certificate. Along with that, highlight your interests and all the clubs and organizations that you’ve been a part of in your application as well.
Review your application before submission
Since incomplete applications cannot be processed and the selection process requires things precisely, make sure you’ve added all the documents and necessary information in yours. From SAT scores and academic transcripts to the online application, check everything twice.
Express interest in the field of education
The award gives preference to students who want to eventually pursue a career path in teaching, especially in the areas that are identified by the Delaware Department of Education. These fields require a dire need of teachers as of 2022 and 2023 and include fields such as technology education and world languages. Show your interest in becoming a teacher, why you want to do so and how you can contribute to the field of education.
Maintain a solid academic background
The minimum unweighted cumulative GPA requirement is 3.0 for the application which is why you must keep up a solid academic record. Along with your transcripts in school or college, you also need to score a combined score of 1010 on the SAT for the application. Make sure you put the effort into both these things and keep them maintained throughout.
How the Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program is Judged
Applicants for the Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program’s award are evaluated on their outstanding academic record, SAT scores, and engagement with extracurricular activities in and out of school.
Why We Love the Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program
Program focuses on bettering the education field
The Delaware Department of Education defined areas that are suffering from a shortage of teachers and aims to give preference to students who want to contribute to such areas, thereby largely contributing to society as a whole.
Aims to increase teachers in identified fields
With more teachers in the highlighted fields, there will not only be more employment opportunities for them but also attention brought to such fields and more doors will open in the field of education.
The program offers a loan forgiveness provision
Aside from the scholarship award, student loan debt of one year is dropped when you teach at a Delaware public school after graduation.
5 Facts About Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program
The award is renewable
The Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive award is renewable for up to three additional years if a GPA of 3.0 is maintained.
Award isn’t only restricted to tuition expenses
Your award money of $5,000 doesn’t only have to go towards your tuition. It can also be used to contribute to other mandatory fees and room and board.
The award honors an exceptional teacher
Christa McAuliffe, who is being honored through this award, was not only a high school teacher but a crew member of the Space Shuttle Challenge and was killed in the 1986 space shuttle Challenger disaster.
The award only assists students from Delaware
The award’s eligibility requirements clearly state that it is only for legal residents from Delaware who must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.
It’s for high school and undergraduate students
High school seniors and enrolled students already enrolled in a program leading to teacher certification can apply.