James Madison Memorial Teaching Fellowships

Eligibility Requirements

Fellowship applicants compete only against other applicants from the states of their legal residence. To be eligible to apply for a fellowship, you must:

A) Be a U.S. citizen.

B) Be a teacher, or plan to become a teacher, of American history, American government, or civics classes where you will teach topics on the Constitution at the secondary school level (grades 7–12).

C) Possess a bachelor's degree or plan to receive a bachelor's degree no later than August 31 of the year in which you are applying.

Professional Teaching Obligation

After receiving the master's degree, each Fellow must teach American history, American government, or civics classes where you will teach topics on the Constitution in grades 7–12 for one full year for each academic year of funding received under a fellowship, preferably in the state from which the recipient won the fellowship.

Financial Aspects of the Award

The maximum amount of each award is $24,000, prorated over the period of study, and in no case shall the award exceed $12,000 for one academic year of study. Normally, Fellows receive less than these maximum amounts. Payments are made only for the actual costs of tuition, required fees, and books (as well as room and board if required to live away from your principal residence), and are made only for the minimum number of credits required for the award of the degree for which a Fellow is registered.

Failure to complete the study for which the fellowship is awarded, to attend the Summer Institute on the Constitution, or to teach a qualifying subject in grades 7–12 for the requisite amount of time entailed by the award will result in forfeiture of the fellowship and require the return of all funds paid under the fellowship, plus applicable interest under federal law.