The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction administers two scholarship programs for students willing to teaching in North Carolina schools upon graduation. The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program annually awards 500 high school seniors four-year scholarships totaling $6,500 per year. Upon accepting the award, students must agree to teach in state for four years after graduation. If the service requirement is not met, recipients must repay the cost of their scholarship as an unsubsidized loan.
The Prezell R. Robinson Scholars Program encourages North Carolina high school students to pursue teaching careers in low-income school districts. Upon graduating high school, scholars nominated by school advisers are awarded the Prospective Teacher Scholarship Loan, which requires graduates to teach in districts lacking sufficiently qualified educators. One year of service cancels out one year of funding.
Clemson University's Call Me Mister initiative is a unique teacher recruitment program for African American males. MISTER is an acronym for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models. The program aims to increase black male elementary teachers in the state of South Carolina. Call Me Mister offers scholarships, tuition assistance, academic and social support to black male elementary education majors entering a participating college or university.
The Siemens Foundation awards annual scholarships to minority students committed to teaching K-12 math and science. Applicants must attend a participating historically black college or university. Candidates must also demonstrate high academic performance in addition to financial need. The Thurgood Marshall College Fund administers the scholarship.
Every year Toyota teams with the Educational Testing Service to award 100 high school seniors full college scholarships. Annually, participating schools nominate one student who demonstrates a commitment to education and community service. The maximum scholarship award totals $20,000 which is distributed over a four year period.
The U. S. Department of Education has initiated a new grant program for students intending to teach in public schools. The TEACH grant requires recipients to work in low-income areas for four years after completing their college degrees. If the students fail to meet the service requirement after graduation, the total cost of their education will be converted to loans which must be repaid.
State education departments across the country have implemented teacher transition programs for professionals in other fields interested in becoming public school educators to offset the growing teacher shortage. In an April 2009 New York Times article, "Report Envisions Shortage of Teachers as Retirements Escalate," writer Sam Dillon states that one third of the 3.2 million teachers currently working in public schools could retire in the next four years.
Since requirements for alternative teacher certification vary by state, aspiring teachers should contact local state education departments for program requirements and for scholarships or grants awarded exclusively to residents of that particular state.