Noyce Knights Scholars Program

Noyce Knights Scholars Program (NKSP)

Funded by the NSF’s Robert Noyce program, the Noyce Knights Scholars Program (NKSP) aims to prepare, support and certify 25 highly qualified diverse middle and high school (6-12) science and mathematics teachers over five years to remedy the 6-12 STEM teacher shortages in Kentucky. Kentucky is producing significantly fewer certified STEM teachers than needed to fill the vacant middle and high school science and mathematics teaching positions in the state. This Noyce Track-1 project builds on the Bellarmine University’s NSF funded Noyce Capacity Building project that build and strengthened the STEM teacher education infrastructure, by forming new partnerships, recruitment pipelines, and retention strategies needed to increase the number of certified STEM teachers in high-need schools in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.

Upon certification, all NKSP scholars will be placed at a JCPS or another high-need school district’s middle or high school (based on the teaching certification) and MUST teach for at least two years for each year of the scholarship/stipend award within 6 years after graduation. NKSP scholars can choose to teach at a high-need school district anywhere in the country for at least two years, for each year of the award within 6 years after graduation.

The starting salary of a JCPS teacher with a MAT degree is $53,447 ($47,096 with a bachelor’s degree) and the average teacher salary of a JCPS teacher is $67,000. Learn more about teacher salaries on the JCPS Career Page.

NKSP will award Noyce scholarships/stipends to US Citizens, US Nationals, or US Permanent Residents to obtain teaching certification in Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics via one of three certification pathways.

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Certification Pathways

Undergraduate

Undergraduate students seeking to obtain a high school (secondary) teaching certification in Mathematics must dual major in both Mathematics and in Secondary Education. NSF Noyce scholarship of $19,200 maximum per year is provided for the junior and senior years for a maximum total amount of $38,400 that fully covers BU’s total cost of attendance after BU’s financial aid package for the two years.

Graduate

Early Entry MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) Program: Undergraduate students majoring in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB), Environmental Science, or Mathematics who are seeking to obtain a middle school science/mathematics or a high school (secondary) teaching certification in Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics can obtain a MAT graduate degree in the fifth (postbaccalaureate) year, after completing their Bachelor’s degree. NSF Noyce stipend of $29,000 is provided for the fifth year, which covers full MAT graduate tuition and fees of $16,560, off-campus living expenses of $10,000 and miscellaneous expenses of $2,440. Note: JCTC and KCTCS Community college STEM students are also eligible to apply for the NKSP stipend under the Early Entry MAT pathway, prior to transferring to BU.

Traditional MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) Program: STEM graduates, STEM Professionals or career changers with a Bachelor’s degree in any STEM discipline who are seeking to obtain a middle school science/mathematics or a high school (secondary) teaching certification in Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics can obtain a MAT graduate degree in two years. NSF Noyce stipend of $29,000 is provided in the second year of MAT, which covers full MAT Graduate Tuition and Fees of $24,840 for the two years and $4,160 for miscellaneous expenses. Additionally, NKSP scholars can apply for BU Graduate Assistantship if a department/office at BU is willing to hire the NKSP scholar. NKSP scholars can receive $10,000 per year (Fall and Spring) if awarded a BU Graduate Assistantship.