As part of the Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (or H.O.P.E.) program, students in the state of Georgia may be eligible for the hope teacher program. This is a loan that is made available to eligible students seeking an advanced degree in critical shortage teaching areas.
Eligibility requirements for the Hope Teacher Program.
Students must:
- Be a US Citizen
- Meet the Georgia Residency Requirements
- Attend an eligible Postsecondary Institution
- Be an Eligible student
- Complete an advanced degree in a critical shortage field
- Complete teaching obligation for waiver of loan
US Citizenship Requirements: student must be a United States Citizen or be an eligible “non-citizen” per Federal Title IV requirements for at least 12 consecutive months preceeding the school term.
Georgia Residency Requirements: student must meet Georgia residency requirements for in-state tuition for at least 12 consecutive months preceeding school term. Out of state tuition waivers do not meet this requirement.
Eligible Postsecondary Institutions:
Public
- Albany State University
- Armstrong Atlantic State University
- Augusta State University
- Columbus State University
- Fort Valley State University
- Georgia College and State University
- Georgia Southern University
- Georgia Southwestern State University
- Georgia State University
- Kennesaw State University
- North Georgia College
- State University of West Georgia
- University of Georgia
- Valdosta State University
Private
- Agnes Scott College
- Berry College
- Brenau University
- Clark Atlanta University
- Emory University
- LaGrange College
- Mercer University
- Oglethorpe University
- Piedmont College
- Toccoa Falls College
- Wesleyan College
Critical Shortage Teaching Areas:
- Art Education (Grades P-12)
- Early Childhood Education (Grades P-5)
- Economics Education (Grades 6-12)
- English Education (Grades 6-12)
- Special Education (Grades P-12)
- • Education of Exceptional Children (Special Education) Adapted
- Curriculum (P-12)
- • General Curriculum (P-12)
- • General Curriculum/Early Childhood Education (P-5)
- • Behavior Disorders (P-12)
- • Hearing Impaired (P-12)
- • Learning Disabilities (P-12)
- • Orthopedically Impaired (P-12)
- Foreign Language Education (Grades P-12)
- • Spanish
- • French
- Geography Education (Grades 6-12)
- History Education (Grades 6-12)
- Mathematics Education (Grades 6-12)
- Middle Grades Education (Grades 4-8)
- • Math
- • Science
- • Math & Science
- • Language Arts
- Music Education (Grades P-12)
- Political Science Education (Grades 6-12)
- Science Education (Grades 6-12)
- • Broad Field Science
- • Biology
- • Chemistry
- • Earth/Space
- • Physics
Complete Teaching obligation for waiver of loan:
1) Complete program of advanced education
2) Teach on a full time basis in the critical shortage field for one academic year for each $2500 awarded
3) Complete the teaching obligation within a five year period after completing the course of study
