Critical Teaching Needs - Eligibility

Eligibility requirements and eligible occupations 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
  postsecondary 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 postsecondary institution as an undergraduate enrolled in your final two years of postsecondary 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. 

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