Date Updated: October 2, 2002

IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is current as of the date this site was updated and is provided for informational purposes only. The eligibility requirements and rules governing the programs administered by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education are subject to legislative and regulatory amendments subsequent to the date this site was updated. Please e-mail the Financial Aid Division at finaid@adhe.arknet.edu if you should need further information.

Please Note:  Due to current economic conditions, awards for this program may be limited by the availability of funds.  Applicants are encouraged to apply but are also encouraged to pursue all sources of financial aid. See our links to other financial aid sources.

The Emergency Secondary Education Loan (ESEL) program is designed to assist students who are pursuing a course of study leading to secondary teacher licensure in the following teacher shortage areas: Math, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physical Science, General Science, Special Education, and/or Foreign Language. The Arkansas Department of Education has determined there is a shortage of fully qualified secondary school teachers in these areas. 

The merit-based scholarship is one-half the total cost of tuition/fees, books/supplies, and room/board at the institution to be attended per academic year or $2,500, whichever is less and shall not exceed the cost of attendance. The loan will be forgiven at the rate of 20% per year for each full year the recipient teaches full-time in a public or private secondary school in Arkansas in one of the above teacher shortage areas. 

The Emergency Secondary Education Loan Program Scholarship converts to a loan if the recipient does not attend college on a full-time basis, withdraws from an approved teacher education shortage program, or does not teach full-time in a public or private secondary school in Arkansas for at least five (5) full years. The loan must be repaid, plus accrued interest at a simple per annum rate, not to exceed five (5) percentage points above the Federal Reserve Discount rate at the time of the contract.

To be eligible for an ESEL award, the student must submit an application by April 1 and:

• be enrolled full-time in a regionally accredited Arkansas public or private college or university in a major field of study leading to secondary education teacher licensure in one of the above teacher shortage areas or an institution where those courses are directly creditable toward secondary education certification at a baccalaureate institution;
  
• have completed their freshman year of college;
  
• have a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average; and,
  
• if a junior, senior, or other, have a minimum 3.00 grade point average in their major area of study.

Call (501) 371-2050 or (800) 54-STUDY for an application or contact the Teacher Certifying Official at your college.