Teaching funds available

This past summer, the N.C. General Assembly increased the funding for the Prospective Teacher Scholarship Loan (PTSL) program for the 2007-08 academic year. Effective immediately, the electronic application for PTSL has been reopened and placed at www.CFNC.org/PTSL and will remain open until funds have been exhausted.

Current undergraduate students pursuing degrees that lead to teacher licensure are encouraged to apply for the program. Current high school students will be able to apply for the 2008-09 school year in January 2008.

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority is now accepting applications for the Future Teachers of North Carolina (FTNC) Scholarship-Loan program for the current academic year.

The FTNC program was established by the 2005 General Assembly to provide scholarships to college juniors and seniors in education who intend to teach math, science, special education, or English as a second language in North Carolina's public schools. The two-year scholarship-loan can be used at any North Carolina four-year institution that offers a teacher education program. Recipients will be awarded $6,500 for the academic year.

To be considered for FTNC, applicants must be North Carolina residents for tuition purposes, must present at least a 3.0 GPA, and must enroll full-time as degree-seeking students in teacher education undergraduate programs at a qualifying campus. In addition, recipients must commit to teach full-time in the areas of math, science, special education, or English as a Second Language in a North Carolina public school for three years after graduation, and must complete the service obligation within five years after graduation. Recipients who do not fulfill the service obligation must repay the scholarship/loan in cash with 10% per annum interest.

A student can receive only one state funded scholarship/loan award in a given academic year. Examples of state-funded programs are Future Teachers of North Carolina, Physical Education/Coaching, Teaching Fellows Program, Prospective Teacher Scholarship Loan, and Millennium Teachers.

Applications, deadlines, eligibility requirements, and additional details about these programs can be obtained by calling College Foundation of North Carolina toll-free at 866-866-CFNC or by visiting CFNC.org.

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