What are the requirements for eligibility for the Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship?

 Initial Eligibility Criteria

  • Agree in writing to stay in South Dakota and work in a critical teaching need occupation for five years after graduating from a participating
    post-secondary institution;

  • Agree, through a promissory note, that failure to abide by the employment requirement above will result in the scholarship being converted into an interest-bearing loan;

  • Attend a participating South Dakota post-secondary institution as an undergraduate enrolled in your final two years of post-secondary education and be fully admitted in an elementary or secondary education program at the institution that is preparing you to work in a critical need teaching
    area;

  • Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident; and

  • Have a minimum cumulative 2.8 GPA on 4.0 scale, and an average of 2.8 GPA for all major coursework. 

 Maintaining Eligibility

  • Maintain a cumulative 2.8 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

  • The student shall complete consecutive fall and spring terms in order to remain eligible for continuation of the scholarship program from term to term; and

  • Maintain full-time status, or demonstrate continued satisfactory progress toward degree completion within the scholarship funding period.

Note: If factors beyond the control of a student who has been awarded a critical teaching needs scholarship prevent the student from meeting any of the requirements, the Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship Board may temporarily waive the requirements of those subdivisions. The board may rescind a scholarship award if the student does not maintain eligibility as prescribed in those subdivisions.

Previous Critical Need Occupations

AY 2020-21 to 2024

  • Teaching K-12 Special Education

  • Teaching High School Math or Science

  • Teaching High School Career and Technical Education

  • Teaching Secondary Language Arts

  • Teaching Secondary World Language

  • Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Language Learners (ELL)

  • Teaching K-12 Vocal or Instrumental Music (Added January 2020)

AY 2019-20

  • Teaching K-12 Special Education

  • Teaching High School Math or Science

  • Teaching High School Career and Technical Education

  • Teaching Secondary Language Arts

  • Teaching Secondary World Language

  • Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Language Learners (ELL)

AY 2016-17 to 2018-2019

  • Teaching K-12 Special Education

  • Teaching High School Math or Science

  • Teaching High School Career and Technical Education

  • Teaching Secondary Language Arts

  • Teaching Secondary World Language

AY 2014-15 to 2015-16

  • Teaching K-12 Special Education

  • Teaching High School Math or Science

  • Teaching High School Career and Technical Education

 

Related FAQ and Information Articles

Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship – Establishing Codified Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Contact Information

Recipients who wish to be considered for accelerated enrollment disbursement should contact a Scholarship representative at scholarships@sdbor.edu or Contact Us Form.

 

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