Joyner – NEA Scholarship Applicants Homework Assignment

Thank you for your interest in the Tom Joyner Foundation – National Education Association Teacher Licensure Scholarship Program Phase II.  Applications will be available in January. Until then, we want you to complete a few assignments!

Assignment 1:  Gather your licensure documentation. This scholarship is for classroom teachers who are NOT fully licensed or pre-service teachers who are enrolled in an accredited teacher preparation at one of the participating colleges or universities. You should have documentation of your licensure status ready BEFORE you apply on line.

Assignment 2:  Gather results from any required teacher licensure exams you have previously taken.  This primary scholarship audience is public classroom teachers who have taken, but have failed to pass, the required teacher licensure exams in their state.  The secondary scholarship audience is pre-service teachers who are enrolled in an accredited teacher preparation program at the participating colleges or universities and who may need assistance in preparing for teacher licensure exams.  Again, you will need to know the scores for any licensure exams you have taken in order to complete on the on line application.

Assignment 3: Find out what tests and passing scores are required in your state for your specific license.Knowing specifically which tests and scores are required by your state for licensure is important. Generally, you can find this information on line by going to your state board of education website.   The following websites may be helpful.

• Alabama : www.alsde.edu/TeachInAlabama/
• District of Columbia : www.k12.dc.us/dcsea/certification/
• Georgia : www.gapsc.com/
• Mississippi :  www.mde.k12.ms.us/ed_licensure/index.html
• Missouri :   dese.mo.gov/divteachqual/teachcert/
• North Carolina : www.ncpublicschools.org/licensure/
• Pennsylvania : www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/
• Tennessee : www.state.tn.us/education/lic/index.shtml
• Texas : www.texes.ets.org/
• Virginia : www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/newvdoe/teached.html

Assignment 4:  Review the content and format of the test you will need to take.  This is the first step in preparing for your licensure exam.  If you receive a scholarship through this program, having reviewed the test format and content will ensure that you get the most out of the support provided to you.  The following websites should be helpful to you.

• AL, DC, MO, MS, NC, PA, TN, VA - www.ets.org
• GA - www.gapsc.com
• TX- www.texes.ets.org

Assignment 5:  Make a commitment and begin studying now! We want each scholarship recipient to take full advantage of all of the resources that will be provided by the participating historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This program, however, has been created to HELP you prepare for your state licensure exam and supplement some of the ways in which you are already preparing.

We wish you the best!!