February 1, 2008
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education offers the following teacher education loans and grants. Visit http://www.adhe.edu/ for a complete list of eligibility requirements, teaching obligations and the most up-to-date information for each of the programs. For more information, call (501) 371-2000 or (800) 547-8839 or e-mail finaid@adhe.edu.
State Teacher Assistance Resource (STAR)
STAR provides forgivable loans to students seeking an initial teaching license who commit to teaching in designated subject and/or geographic shortage areas in Arkansas after completion of licensure requirements. STAR loans are $3,000 to $6,000 per academic year for a maximum of two to three years, depending on the length of the program. Recipients must teach in an Arkansas public school in a designated subject and/or geographic shortage area one year for each year of STAR funding received.
Applications accepted Feb. 1 to June 1, 2008.
STAR repayment grants may also be available. If funds are available, current teachers may receive assistance in repayment of federal student loans in the amount of $3,000 to $6,000 per year for a maximum of three years. Applicants must be licensed teachers who graduated from a teacher education program after April 1, 2004, and teach in an Arkansas public school in a designated subject and/or geographic shortage area. STAR forgivable loan recipients are not eligible to apply for a STAR repayment grant.
Applications accepted March 1 to May 1, 2008.
Minority Teacher Scholars Program (MTSP)
MTSP provides forgivable loans to undergraduate-level minority students seeking an initial teaching license. Recipients may receive MTSP for a maximum of four semesters or six trimesters. Recipients may receive $5,000 per academic year and must teach in an Arkansas public school for five years after completing teacher licensure requirements. The teaching obligation may be reduced to three years for designated subject and/or geographic shortage areas.
Applications accepted Feb. 1 to June 1, 2008.
Minority Masters Fellows (MMF)
MMF provides forgivable loans to graduate-level minority students. Recipients may receive a maximum of $7,500 and may enroll as either full-time or part-time students. Recipients must teach in an Arkansas public school or public institution of higher education for two years after completion of their master’s program. This shall be in addition to any teaching obligation the recipient may have to fulfill based on receipt of other funds.
Applications accepted Feb. 1 to June 1, 2008.
Also, the following program administered by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is available to all minority students attending higher education institutions in Arkansas.
Arkansas Geographical Critical Needs Minority Scholarship
This scholarship provides financial assistance to minority students attending any public or private institution of higher education in Arkansas with an approved teacher education program. Recipients must teach in the Arkansas Delta region after completion of licensure program. For more information, contact the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Education at (870) 575-8261.
