Minority Teacher Education Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Florida Fund for Minority Teachers

Introduction
The Minority Teacher Education Scholarship (MTES) was established as Florida’s response to increasing diversity in the teaching workforce. For more than 20 years, the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc. (FFMT) has been supporting the preparation of highly qualified minority educators for Florida schools. FFMT is overseen by a Board of Directors appointed by the Governor, representing colleges, universities, and various industry sectors across the state.

Before you click “Apply Now”
Please review the statements below carefully. You must be able to answer yes to every item to continue with the MTES application. If any statement does not apply to you, you are not eligible for this scholarship and should not proceed. If you are unsure about any requirement, contact your Primary Contact before applying.

Applicant checklist (all must be true)
- I am a resident of the State of Florida.
- I identify as one of these racial/ethnic groups: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaskan Native.
- I am admitted or newly admitted to a state-approved teacher education program at one of FFMT’s participating colleges or universities.
- I am a junior, senior, or graduate student at a participating institution.
- I have completed at least 60 college credit hours or hold an Associate of Arts (AA) degree.
- I have not previously earned a baccalaureate degree in Education.
- I have not taken more than 18 upper-division education credit hours.

Essay prompt
Please provide a 100–300 word response to the following: How has the educational landscape changed over the past 5 years?

Eligibility (expanded)
To be considered for MTES, an applicant must meet all of the following:
- Be a legal resident of Florida.
- Be a member of one of the following racial/ethnic groups: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaskan Native.
- Be admitted into a state-approved teacher education program at a participating FFMT college or university.
- Be a junior, senior, or graduate student. Applicants must not already hold a baccalaureate degree in Education (a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field is permissible). Graduate students must be enrolled in a program leading to initial teacher certification.
- Have earned a minimum of 60 credit hours or possess an AA degree.
- Have no more than 18 upper-division education credit hours completed.

Selection process
Each participating campus forms a screening committee to evaluate applications. Those committees forward nominees to FFMT’s administrative office, which makes the final selections each semester. New scholars will receive a congratulatory letter and a promissory note; the note must be signed and returned within 30 days of receipt. Keep a copy of the promissory note, which details the scholarship’s terms and conditions.

Selection is based on indicators of potential to become effective teachers, including writing and communication skills, overall academic performance, and demonstrated commitment to youth—ideally shown through volunteer or community service. Graduates of state or community colleges may receive special consideration.

Scholarship award amounts
- The MTES provides $4,000 per academic year.
- Funds are disbursed only during the fall and spring semesters, at $2,000 per semester.

Terms and obligations
- Recipients must attend the Annual Teacher Recruitment and Professional Development Symposiums.
- Scholars must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by their institution; for MTES purposes, recipients must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and be enrolled full time.
- After graduation, recipients are obligated to teach in a Florida public school for one year for each year they received the scholarship.
- If a recipient fails to graduate within 2–3 years, or does not fulfill the teaching obligation in a Florida public school, the recipient will be required to repay the full scholarship amount plus interest at an annual rate of 8%.

Transcripts — required documentation
Official transcripts are required from every postsecondary institution you have attended, including your current school. Example: if you attended Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) and transferred to the University of Central Florida (UCF), submit official transcripts from both FSCJ and UCF. Transcripts must be sent directly from each institution’s Registrar’s Office to FFMT; transcripts sent by applicants will not be accepted. Transcripts may be submitted electronically or by U.S. mail:

- Electronic transcripts: cwilliams@ffmt.org
- Mail: FFMT, Inc.
1908 Stadium Road, Room 334 Yon Hall
PO Box 112010
Gainesville, FL 32611

Questions / Primary Contact
If you have any questions about eligibility or the application process, please reach out to your Primary Contact at the participating institution before submitting your application.