Get the Education

Your path to certification starts here

There are a number of options in Kansas to receive teacher preparation or an advanced degree in a number of fields related to education. Below you’ll find a pathway to help you get started quickly if you’re looking for a mid-career change and financial aid information for prospective teachers of all kinds.

Teacher Grant Opportunities

Alternative Certification Information

The Restricted Teaching License Alternative Pathway is designed for mid-career professionals who have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or equivalent coursework in a content area they want to teach. If that’s you, the pathway provides an opportunity for you to have immediate access to start teaching under a restricted license while completing professional education pedagogy coursework to become fully licensed.

Financial Aid Information

Federal Perkins Loan Teacher Cancellation

If you have served full-time in a public or nonprofit elementary or school system in the following roles, you may qualify for cancellation (discharge) of up to 100% of a Federal Perkins Loan:

  • Teacher in a school serving students from low-income families
  • Special education teacher, including teachers of infants, toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities
  • Teacher in the fields of mathematics, science, foreign languages, or bilingual education, or in any other field of expertise determined by a state education agency to have a shortage of qualified teachers 

Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness

While some educators may benefit from the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is eligible to any full-time staff member. The loan forgiveness amount is determined on an individual basis and is tax-free. 

Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship

This scholarship is a merit-based service obligation program that provides financial assistance to both students in bachelor’s degree programs and currently licensed teachers pursuing endorsement or master’s degrees in hard-to-fill areas, as well as students and teachers planning to teach in an underserved geographic area. Recipients sign agreements to teach one year for each year of scholarship support in Kansas. 

Student Financial Aid

Student financial aid includes grants, scholarships, and loans available through the federal and state government, private corporations, and philanthropic organizations. The Kansas Board of Regents is responsible for the administration of state-funded grants and scholarships. For more information on financial assistance, please contact the financial aid office at the school you wish to attend or contact the Kansas Board of Regents for more information.

KNEA Grants and Scholarships
KNEA Scholarship Information – Degrees Not Debt
Perkins Loan

Teacher education programs in Kansas

See why teachers love teaching

We’ve interviewed teachers around the state and at different points in their careers so they can share why they love being in the classroom.