The 2023-2024 application opens​ February 1, 2023

​​The Teaching Fellows for​ Maryland Scholarship is awarded to students who pledge to work as public school or public prekindergarten teachers in Maryland upon completion of their studies at schools that have at least 50% of the students in the school eligible for free or reduced-price meals (FRPM).

Who May Apply?

• Applicants who are enrolled or plan to enroll at an eligible institution in an undergraduate or graduate program.
• Applicants seeking to change careers to pursue a course of study or program in an academic discipline leading to a Maryland professional teacher's certificate. 
• Applicants must agree to work as public school or public prekindergarten teachers in the State upon completion of their studies at elementary and secondary schools that have at least 50% of the students in the school eligible for free or reduced-price meals (FRPM). 
• Be a Maryland resident or ha​ve graduated from a Maryland high school;
• Enroll full-time or part-time at an eligible institution pursuing a course of study or program leading to a Maryland professional teacher's certificate.
• Be currently enrolled in high school and have an overall unweighted overall GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent after completion of the first semester of the senior year.
• Be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at an eligible institution and have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale and have made satisfactory progress toward a degree in an academic discipline leading to a Maryland professional teacher's certificate.
• Achieved a score of 500 on the reading and math portions of the SAT, with a combined score of at least 1100.
• Achieved a composite ACT score of 25 or
• Achieved a score of 50% on the GRE and have demonstrated an exceptional dedication to or aptitude for teaching.

Note: An individual who has been employed as a teaching assistant at a public school or public prekindergarten program in Maryland for at least 2 years may apply and is eligible to hold the scholarship as a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student.  A recipient of this scholarship may not hold a Maryland professional teacher's certificate.

How do I Apply?

Applicants for the Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship must submit the online application through your MDCAPS account. The online application and all required documents must be submitted by April 1, 2023 for consideration of the award. 

What Documentation is Required?

An applicant currently enrolled in high school or not currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution, or an applicant enrolled in college and has completed less than 12 college credits:

• An official high school transcript; or
• Documentation of SAT or ACT scores

An applicant currently or previously enrolled as an undergraduate student who has completed more than 12 college credits, or a college graduate not currently enrolled in an eligible institution:

• An official college transcript; or
• A documentation of SAT or ACT scores 

A graduate applicant in a post-secondary institution:

• Documentation of GRE scores if taken; or
• An official undergraduate transcript

All applicants must also submit a written essay of a least 600 words detailing how they have demonstrated an exceptional dedication to or aptitude for teaching. The essay must be typed.

Service Obligation Requirement

An applicant awarded the Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship must sign and return a promissory note agreeing to begin fulfillment of the service obligation as follows:  

• A recipient of the Teaching Fellows scholarship must teach in a public school or public prekindergarten program that has at least 50% of its students eligible for FRPM for the periods specified below:

1. For a recipient who receives a scholarship as an undergraduate student, the service obligation is 1 year for each year that the recipient receives a scholarship.
2. For a student who receives a scholarship as a graduate student, the service obligation is 2 years for each year that the recipient receives a scholarship.

Students are responsible for verifying that their place of employment has at least 50% of its students eligible for FRPM for the periods specified.

Eligible Institutions

The Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship may be used at a:

• ​Maryland public senior higher education institution that possesses a certificate of approval from the Commission and has a department, school, or college of education, or
  
• Maryland private non-profit institution of higher education that possesses a certificate of approval from the Commission, has a department, school, or college of education, and agrees to provide a matching grant to an undergraduate or graduate student who receives a Teaching Fellows of Maryland scholarship. Once the private non-profit institution participants for the Teaching Fellows of Maryland Scholarship have been determined​ for the 2023-2024 application cycle, a list will be posted. ​
  

​Award Amount

An award applicant is eligible to receive an award contingent on the availability of funds as follows:

• ​At a Maryland public senior higher education institution, the scholarship award is equivalent to 100% of the annual tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate.
• At a Maryland private nonprofit institution, the scholarship award is equal to the lesser of:

1. 100% of the annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate, at the University of Maryland College Park (UMPC) and 100% of the room and board of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate, at the institution; or
2. 50% of the annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate or graduate student, as appropriate, at the institution and 100% of the room and board of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate, at the institution.

A private nonprofit institution must provide a matching scholarship award in an amount equal to the State award provided for tuition & fees only.  Private nonprofit institutions are not required to match State funds awarded for room and board.

Renewal Requirements

A recipient is eligible to receive a renewal award for up to three years if the recipient:

• Continues to be a resident of the state.
• Continues to be a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student.
• Maintains a GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
• Continues to make satisfactory progress toward a degree, and maintains the standards of the institution.

If a recipient of the Teaching Fellows of Maryland scholarship is enrolled in a course of study that is determined by the institution to require five years to complete, the recipient may renew the annual award four times. The recipient must submit a “Program of Study" appeal, by the deadline, providing documentation of the program of study requirements.​

Click here for more informaiton on the conditions of award.

​

The Teaching Fellow for Maryland Scholarship regulations have been published online under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).​