The Inspired to Teach Scholarship and Incentive Program

The Oklahoma Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Incentive Program ("Inspired to Teach") offers qualified students an opportunity to earn scholarships and benefits. Program participants may have the opportunity to earn up to $25,500 as they complete an Educator Preparation Program and teach in Oklahoma.

Requirements

Graduated from high school, completed high-school level instruction at home, or completed General Educational Development (GED) test requirements.
Meet higher education admission standards at:
A public or private Oklahoma university with an accredited Oklahoma teacher education program, or
A community college with an approved articulation agreement with an accredited Oklahoma university teacher education program.
Declare a major in an accredited Oklahoma university teacher education program with a degree leading to a standard teaching certificate, or declare a major at a community college with an approved "Inspired to Teach" articulation agreement with an accredited Oklahoma teacher education program leading to a standard Oklahoma teaching certificate.
Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student each semester of eligibility in the program.

Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and a minimum 2.5 GPA throughout matriculation.
Prior to entry into the "Inspired to Teach" program, the student shall agree to complete the Oklahoma teacher preparation education program and agree to teach in an Oklahoma public prekindergarten through 12th grade (PK-12) school for a minimum of five (5) consecutive years upon graduation and licensure as a teacher.

As used in this section, "full-time student" means: 1. An undergraduate student enrolled in twelve (12) or more semester credits toward teacher education degree requirements; 2. An undergraduate student who is a teacher education major who is enrolled in or has completed an internship or student teaching credit hours in order to complete the degree program prior to certification and who has been approved to take less than twelve (12) credit hours; or 3. An undergraduate student who is a teacher education major with an approved reasonable accommodation from Student Accessibility Services due to a documented disability and who has been approved to take less than twelve (12) credit hours.

Benefits

One thousand dollars ($1,000) per academic year for up to three (3) academic years for full-time students who have earned less than 90 credit hours.
Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for the final academic year for full-time students who have earned 90 or more credit hours.
After graduating and earning certification, participants can earn $4,000 for each year they teach in an Oklahoma public school for up to five (5) years.

How Do I Apply?

In order to apply for Inspired to Teach, you will need to complete and submit the Inspired to Teach Application.

After submission, the OSU Inspired to Teach coordinator will work with the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education (OSRHE) to review and process your application. If your registration is approved, you will not need to reapply in order to keep participating in the program so long as you continue to meet all Inspired to Teach eligibility requirements each semester.

Although it may vary, participants scheduled to receive an Inspired to Teach scholarship award during a Fall semester typically receive the award in late October or November. Similarly, participants scheduled to receive an Inspired to Teach scholarship award during a Spring semester generally receive the award in late March or April.

Frequently Asked Questions

I've graduated! How will I receive my incentive payments?

In order to receive an incentive payment, you must provide OSRHE with the documents linked below. Please note that during participation in the Inspired to Teach program, the "employment compliance form" should be provided to OSRHE upon completion of each year of teaching. Participants must begin teaching within 13 months after graduating in order to receive the incentive portion.

Applicant Contact Information Update:

Complete this document in the event that

You have secured employment and started your first year of teaching
Your contact information needs to be updated
You have started teaching at a different school

Employment Compliance Form:

To be forwarded to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education upon completion of each year of teaching in an Oklahoma public school district for up to five years. Provide the information requested in each space (Please Type or Print). An Employment Compliance Form must be filled out for each district in which you have been employed during each year of employment with the school.