Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (NSF 14-508)?

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (NSF Funding Opportunity 14-508) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant program designed to strengthen the K-12 STEM teacher workforce. It aims to bring more high-quality candidates into mathematics and science teaching, especially in high-need school districts, and to improve the capacity of colleges and universities to prepare effective STEM teachers.

What is the main goal of the program?

The central goal is to motivate talented STEM undergraduates, post-baccalaureate degree holders, and working STEM professionals to pursue teacher certification and remain in the classroom, particularly in high-need K-12 school districts. At the same time, the program seeks to build institutional capacity at colleges and universities to better prepare STEM teachers.

Who is this funding intended to benefit?

Based on the solicitation description, the program is designed to support pathways into K-12 mathematics and science teaching for STEM undergraduates, post-baccalaureate STEM degree holders, working STEM professionals seeking certification through a master’s pathway, and experienced exemplary math/science teachers developing as Master Teachers. The applicant organizations are primarily eligible U.S. institutions of higher education and certain consortia structures described in the eligibility section.

What types of projects (tracks) are available under this opportunity?

The opportunity is organized around three main project types (often called tracks):

• Noyce Scholarship Track
• NSF Teaching Fellowship/Master Teaching Fellowship Track
• Capacity Building Projects

What is the Noyce Scholarship Track?

The Noyce Scholarship Track provides funding to institutions of higher education to create or expand scholarship and support programs for undergraduate STEM majors and post-baccalaureate students who already hold STEM degrees. Funds may be used for scholarships and stipends, along with academic and programmatic supports to help participants earn a teaching credential.

Is there a teaching service commitment for scholarship recipients?

Yes. In exchange for scholarships, recipients commit to teaching mathematics or science in high-need K-12 school districts. The program aligns financial support with a service obligation intended to address staffing shortages in high-need communities.

What is the NSF Teaching Fellowship/Master Teaching Fellowship Track?

This track targets two related audiences:

• NSF Teaching Fellows: STEM professionals who enroll in master’s degree programs that lead to teacher certification.
• NSF Master Teaching Fellows: Exemplary, experienced mathematics and science teachers who deepen their expertise and leadership as Master Teachers.

What support can NSF Teaching Fellows receive under this program?

Funding can cover academic coursework and professional development for STEM professionals in master’s programs leading to teacher certification. The track can also provide salary supplements while participants complete a four-year teaching commitment in a high-need school district.

What support can NSF Master Teaching Fellows receive under this program?

This component provides professional development and salary supplements for exemplary, experienced math and science teachers who are prepared to deepen their expertise and leadership. Master Teaching Fellows fulfill a five-year teaching commitment in a high-need school district, with a broader intent of building instructional leadership and sustained excellence in STEM teaching.

What is a Capacity Building Project in this program?

Capacity Building Projects focus on strengthening the pipeline and infrastructure needed to prepare more STEM teachers over time. Rather than primarily funding individual scholarships or fellow stipends, these awards support new programs, partnerships, and activities that increase an institution’s ability to design innovative teacher preparation models.

What kinds of activities do Capacity Building Projects support?

They support efforts that increase an institution’s ability to prepare larger numbers of STEM majors and STEM professionals to become effective K-12 math and science teachers, as well as efforts that expand capacity to prepare and support master-level STEM teachers who can serve as instructional leaders in high-need settings.

Which NSF area administers this program, and what is the CFDA number?

This is a grant program in NSF’s Education and Human Resources area. The CFDA number listed is 47.076.

How much total funding was estimated for this competition, and how many awards were expected?

The estimated total funding for the competition was $52,670,000, with an expected 61 awards.

What is the award size range for this program?

Individual awards ranged from a floor of $150,000 up to a ceiling of $3,250,000. This indicates the program supports both smaller, targeted initiatives and larger, multi-component efforts.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The solicitation specifies that cost sharing or matching is required. Applicants should be prepared to document non-NSF resources or commitments that support the project, consistent with the solicitation’s rules.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited primarily to accredited U.S. higher education institutions with a U.S.-located campus. This includes two-year and four-year colleges, community colleges, and tribal colleges, as well as consortia of such institutions.

Can nonprofit organizations apply?

Yes, U.S. nonprofit entities may apply if they have established consortia among eligible institutions of higher education.

Are there requirements for who must lead the project (PI/Co-PI)?

Yes. The principal investigator (PI), or at least one co-principal investigator (Co-PI), must be a STEM faculty member in a mathematics, science, engineering, or computer science department. This requirement reinforces the program’s emphasis on strong STEM content expertise and departmental engagement in teacher preparation.

What is meant by “high-need school districts” in this opportunity?

The opportunity repeatedly emphasizes teaching in high-need K-12 school districts as the priority setting for service commitments and workforce strengthening. The provided information does not include a specific definition, but it clearly frames high-need districts as the intended target for addressing persistent staffing shortages.

What were the key deadlines for this competition?

The key dates listed were:

• Optional letter of intent deadline: February 5, 2014 (by 5 p.m. local time)
• Full proposal deadline: March 5, 2014

When was this opportunity posted and when was it archived?

The opportunity was originally posted on November 8, 2013 and archived on April 7, 2014.

What is the official solicitation reference for this opportunity?

The official solicitation reference is NSF Publication 14-508.

Where can applicants get help for access or submission system issues?

For access or submission system issues, the listing points applicants to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

Does the program focus on all STEM fields equally for teaching placements?

The described service commitments and teaching focus are specifically tied to mathematics and science teaching in K-12 settings. While STEM content expertise is emphasized broadly (math, science, engineering, and computer science for PI/Co-PI eligibility), the classroom teaching commitments described are for mathematics or science in high-need districts.

What does the program try to improve at colleges and universities?

Beyond supporting individuals through scholarships, fellowships, and professional development, the program aims to improve the institutional capacity of colleges and universities to prepare effective STEM teachers. This includes creating or expanding support structures and building innovative teacher preparation models and partnerships.