Grads will address state teacher shortage
CONWAY—Individuals interested in becoming a teacher and earning a master’s degree still have time to apply for up to $5,000 tuition through a grant program at the University of Central Arkansas.
The grant allows up to $5,000 in tuition and other incentives to students earning a Master of Arts in Teaching at UCA commit to teach in a partnership school district for three years.
“The University of Central Arkansas’ Transition to Teaching grant allows us to give financial assistance to those who want to return to college and get a master’s degree in education,” said Dr. Victoria Groves-Scott, dean of the College of Education. “It also provides an incentive for teachers to work in districts that might struggle to find qualified teachers. Through this program, UCA is able to build capacity and provide high-quality teachers that every child in Arkansas deserves.”
The U.S. Department of Education awarded the $2.3 million Partnership for Transition to Teaching federal grant to the University of Central Arkansas in 2011, the only school in Arkansas.
The Transition to Teaching grant was originally granted to prepare math and science teachers for the North Little Rock and Little Rock school districts. In response to the teacher shortage in the state, the U.S. Department of Education allowed the grant to be expanded to 142 Arkansas school districts in the following critical need subject areas, which now also includes journalism, social studies and music:
- Art
- Computer Science
- Family & Consumer Sciences
- Journalism
- Library Media
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physical Science (Chemistry, Physics)
- Social Studies
- Spanish
- Special Education
For more information about the Transition to Teaching program or the Master of Arts in Teaching, visit uca.edu/transition, email transition@uca.edu or call 501-450-5443.
