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Servicecenter@nau.eduArizona Teachers Academy FAQ
Learn more about the Arizona Teachers Academy (ATA), including applicant eligibility, how to apply, and how the program works.
Students are eligible if:
- they have been admitted in one of the qualifying undergraduate or graduate education programs
- they are a student in good academic standing
- they have a current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with NAU
Once you’ve completed these eligibility requirements, you must submit an ATA agreement form, which will be available in your LOUIE portal on the to-do list.
Please note: Participation in the Arizona Teachers Academy is first-come, first-served for students who complete all eligibility requirements, up to the allowable funding provided by the state.
Eligibility questions
Am I eligible if I am a senior who will be student teaching?
Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria above.
Can I apply for the ATA Scholarship if I am admitted to a dual certification program?
Yes, you are still welcome to apply as long as your chosen degree programs are on the list of eligible programs.
Can a student teach out-of-state and still get the ATA Scholarship?
Yes, but you must return to Arizona to fulfill your teaching commitment in an Arizona public school post-graduation.
Can I use the ATA Scholarship for a master’s degree that leads to an additional teaching credential?
Yes, some master’s degree programs are eligible.
Does the ATA Scholarship cover tuition costs if I am enrolled in the Student Teaching Intern Certificate (STIC) pathway option for completing student teaching?
Yes, it will cover any remaining balances for tuition and mandatory fees when enrolled in student teaching and utilizing the STIC pathway. The teaching commitment will begin following graduation.
Is there a deadline to apply?
ATA Scholarships will be awarded until they have been exhausted. Deadlines will be posted each semester. There is a limited amount of funding available for scholarships for the year so students are encouraged to submit the ATA Agreement ASAP.
When will I know if I am eligible to apply for ATA and have been accepted?
The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) will review your application and account to determine an award amount based on any remaining tuition and fee charges once all gift aid (i.e., grants and tuition waivers) have been applied.
Can I receive an ATA Scholarship for both an eligible undergraduate and graduate program?
Yes, you would be able to receive the ATA Scholarship for each degree. You would need to complete requirements for the undergraduate program prior to starting the graduate program.
Can I apply for the ATA Scholarship if my immigration status is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)?
At this time, students with a DACA immigration status do not qualify for federal or state financial aid or scholarships.
Can I apply for the ATA Scholarship if I am on financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Suspension?
Unless students are on SAP suspension for Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), students with an SAP suspension status can be part of ATA and will be considered for an ATA Scholarship.
What is continuous enrollment defined as for the ATA?
Continuous enrollment is maintaining enrollment in both fall and spring semesters until the completion of or exit from your ATA eligible degree program.
Agreement form questions
How do I submit the ATA agreement form?
Electronically via the link provided in the ATA agreement item in your LOUIE to-do list.
What do I do if I don’t see the form in my LOUIE account?
Make sure that you have completed all required steps to be eligible to apply for the ATA Scholarship.
General ATA questions
How many ATA Scholarships are available?
Funding for the ATA is dependent upon continued appropriation of funds set by the state of Arizona and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
What does the ATA Scholarship cover?
The ATA Scholarship covers any tuition and mandatory fees in a student account after all gift aid (i.e., grant and tuition waivers) has been applied. It does not cover books. It does not cover housing, food, books, etc.
If I receive the ATA Scholarship, would I just be responsible for room, board, and books?
Yes, the ATA Scholarship will ensure that tuition and all mandatory fees are covered.
If I have other grants that cover all or part of my tuition, should I still apply for the ATA Scholarship?
We encourage every student pursuing an ATA-eligible degree who plans to teach in Arizona in a public school post-graduation to apply for the ATA Scholarship.
Will the ATA Scholarship cover tuition for summer semesters?
ATA summer scholarship funding varies from year to year. If funding is available, ATA members from the current academic year will be notified via their NAU email address during the spring semester. Please watch for the email notification and make sure to register for all summer session courses by the stated deadline (i.e., including courses in all summer session terms).
Will the ATA Scholarship cover classes that have a late start?
Yes. However, you should be registered in all courses prior to submitting your ATA Agreement Form, and you are encouraged to register for the classes prior to the start of the semester even if the start date is later in the semester.
Is the ATA Scholarship a needs-based scholarship?
No. ATA is not a needs-based scholarship and is open to all students who are enrolled in an eligible program and are US citizens or permanent residents.
Other questions
What are the other benefits of the ATA?
In addition to being considered for an ATA Scholarship, the other benefits of ATA include:
- professional development opportunities during your program
- coverage of licensure exam costs
- coverage of teaching certification costs upon graduation
- first-year teacher induction and mentor support provided by the Arizona K–12 Center
Am I eligible to receive ATA vouchers for licensure exams?
This benefit became available to ATA students starting in Fall 2021. If you were an ATA participant in Fall 2021 or later, you can receive vouchers for your licensure exams.
Federal TEACH Grant questions
Is the ATA Scholarship different from the TEACH Grant?
Yes, there are separate applications for the ATA Scholarship and the TEACH Grant. The ATA Scholarship is an Arizona state sponsored scholarship and the TEACH Grant is a federal grant program. Students can be awarded both the ATA Scholarship and TEACH Grant depending on financial need.
Do I have to apply for the TEACH Grant in order to get the ATA Scholarship?
No, you do not have to apply for the TEACH Grant in order to be eligible for the ATA Scholarship, but students are encouraged to apply for both the TEACH Grant and the ATA Scholarship.
Would I have to serve additional years teaching if I accept both the TEACH Grant and the ATA Scholarship?
No, the years of service can be served concurrently, as long as you select a high needs public school in Arizona.
Does the TEACH Grant require a student to teach in Arizona?
No, there are eligible schools across the United States for students who ONLY accept the TEACH Grant.
Additional ATA questions
Financial aid and student account questions
Why does my account state I still owe money?
Once awarded, the ATA Scholarship will be applied to tuition and mandatory fees after all other federal, state, and institutional grants and tuition waivers are applied and no sooner than 10 days prior to the first day of classes. Your eligibility for the ATA scholarship will be evaluated by Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) once your ATA Agreement is received, tuition and fee charges are posted to your account for the term and you have been awarded all other tuition waivers and grants.
If I have a loan in my account and am accepted by this program, do I still need to accept the loan to cover my fees?
You can choose to accept your loan to help cover non-tuition and fee costs, such as books, housing, or other costs of attendance. You can also choose to decline the loan.
If I have already accepted a loan for next year can I un-accept it?
No. If you have already accepted a federally-funded loan, please contact your NAU financial aid officer to request the loan be reduced or canceled.
I added a course to my schedule after my ATA Scholarship disbursed, will the ATA Scholarship be adjusted to cover it?
A student’s ATA Scholarship can only be increased based on enrollment changes before the semester’s census date regardless of which class session a student is enrolled in. For more information regarding academic deadlines, please read more about the Office of the Registrar’s important dates and deadlines.
Will the ATA Scholarship be awarded every year?
A student must reapply for every academic year and summer term separately, meet the eligibility requirements, and agree to the post-graduation service commitment. Funding is dependent on legislative appropriation.
Will this scholarship disburse before tuition is due?
Your eligibility for an ATA scholarship will be determined once your ATA agreement is received, tuition and fee charges are posted to your account, and all other tuition waivers and grants have been awarded for the term.
- If an ATA Scholarship is not on your account by the tuition payment due date, you should make other arrangements to ensure your tuition is covered. For payment options please visit Student & Departmental Account Services.
- If a student pays tuition and mandatory fees with a loan, payment plan, or personal payments and then receives an ATA Scholarship, the loan payment or personal payments will be reallocated to other charges in the student’s account and/or refunded. The only amount that will not be refunded is the payment plan fee. NAU’s Student and Department Account Services is considering petitions for refund requests related to this fee. Students may submit a petition to request a refund of the fee.
- The ATA Scholarship has a higher priority than loans and personal payments, so when it disburses, it will push out those types of payments so that it can apply to tuition. If the student owes other charges on the account, the payment will move to those other charges. If no other charges are owed, then the loan or payment will refund to the student directly.
Requirements for post-graduation teaching commitment
How long will I need to work following graduation to fulfill the requirements of the ATA Scholarship?
One year of service in an Arizona public school (i.e., district, charter, or Bureau of Indian Education school located in Arizona) is required for every year or portion of a year a student receives an ATA Scholarship.
NOTE: A semester is defined as fall or spring. Summer scholarship funding does convert to a loan if teaching service commitment is not fulfilled.
If a student accepts the TEACH Grant, there are additional restrictions on the type of Arizona public school a graduate must teach in.
I plan on going into a graduate program after I complete my undergraduate program. Can I defer my teaching commitment until I complete my graduate program?
The Arizona Board of Regents will consider deferment requests for the teaching requirement based on full-time enrollment in a master’s degree program. Students who have completed the ATA program may submit a deferment request for consideration to postpone the full-time teaching requirement to one year following completion of master’s degree program or two years post-bachelor’s degree; whichever is less.
Do I get to choose the school where I teach or am I placed in a school?
Graduates choose the school in which they will be employed post-graduation. An eligible school to meet the ATA Scholarship requirement is any Arizona public school. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools located in Arizona are also eligible.
What is the timeframe to fulfill my teaching commitment?
To fulfill the post-graduation teaching commitment, students who have completed the ATA program must begin teaching within one year after graduation.
What happens if I don’t fulfill the teaching commitment?
The Arizona Board of Regents states that “the board staff shall provide to each person in repayment an amortization schedule. There shall be no interest charged and the repayment duration shall be no more than 10 years.”