Teacher Education at ISU
 

"Science instruction within the CPS district offers several opportunities for science educators. CPS is currently part of a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation directed to provide high school science, English and math teachers with progressive curriculums and all of the associated materials needed to implement the curriculum. In addition, the Transformation Project will provide coaching opportunities from local universities such as Northwestern, University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Illinois Institute of Technology. New teachers to the district will be well supported as they receive just enough support from coaches and curriculum to establish their classroom persona and management style that make teaching both a team endeavor but also an individual art form."

Joshua VanderJagt
Biology and Chemistry Teacher
Head of Science Farragut Career Academy
Chicago Public Schools

Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Details

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program provides a scholarship award plus tuition and fee waivers for up to two years to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students either already enrolled or transferring into a Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, physics, Earth science/geology or mathematics teacher preparation programs as either a junior or senior.

In addition, applicants who already hold a STEM Bachelor's degree and who enter either a post-baccalaureate or Master's degree teacher certification program may be eligible for a 16 month maximum Noyce stipend of $15,000 plus tuition and fee waivers.

In return, recipients will commit to teach two years in in a Chicago Public School (CPS) for every year of scholarship or stipend support received upon successful completion of their teacher certification through Illinois State University.

Participants in the program will take part in special orientation sessions and program activities in Chicago during their pre-service education. They will continue to receive mentoring from the Chicago Public Schools in their first few years of teaching.

Selection criteria

Candidates will be selected based on the following criteria:

  • have a current GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale;
  • be a U.S. citizen or national or permanent resident alien;
  • be a junior, senior, or post-baccalaureate majoring in or degreed in mathematics, engineering, or science;
  • have completed at least 75 percent of the semester credit hours attempted in the most recent academic year;
  • are enrolled (or will transfer to and enroll) at Illinois State at least three quarter time in an approved education certification program as: a junior, a senior, or a second Bachelor's certification-only student;
  • write a statement of purpose and interest;
  • complete the FAFSA . (For more information, please refer to the Illinois State University Office of Financial Aid.)

Expectations of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

Noyce scholarship and stipend recipients will be expected to:

  • enter into an agreement with Illinois State committing to teach full time in a Chicago Public School in a community experiencing a critical teacher shortage as a certified teacher in mathematics or science for two years for each scholarship year;
  • complete their certification program within two years;
  • meet their teaching commitment within six years of completion of the program.

Participants who fail to meet the teaching requirement will be expected to repay the National Science Foundation the amount of their Noyce support plus 5 percent (fixed annual interest). A signed a promissory note acknowledging the conditional nature of the grant and promise to repay the grant plus interest at an annual fixed interest rate of five percent is required.