Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Scholarship

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Program encourages Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students to become educators, school nurses, school counselors, or school therapists and to promote professional growth for BIPOC teachers and Education Support Professionals (ESP) members.

Eligibility 

To be eligible, the applicant must be:

• Pursuing a degree, credential, or certification for a teaching-related career in public education in an accredited institution of higher education
• A member of a defined BIPOC group: (African American/Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Hispanic)
• Enrolled for summer or fall semester of 2026

The applicant must also be one of the following:

• An active member of CTA
• A dependent child of an active, CTA/NEA-Retired, or deceased CTA member (per IRS ruling)
• An active member of CTA Aspiring Educators

To receive the scholarship, the active CTA Aspiring Educators member must reside in California and maintain membership at the time of disbursement.

Criteria 

Each Application is evaluated and scored on the following:

• Financial Need 30 pts
• Applicant Statement 30 pts
• Recommendation Forms 20 pts
• Activities and achievements 20 pts

Scholarship funds must be used for education-related expenses only.

Applicant Statement Criteria (350 words or less):

Dependent child only:

1. Why are you choosing a career path related to public education?
2. What are your personal attributes and unique qualities that will help you succeed in a teaching-related profession?
3. Why should there be more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) educators represented in the field of education?

CTA and CTA Aspiring Educators* members only:

1. In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., who worked to promote civil rights and social justice, how do you intend to carry on his work in the following areas?
   • Social Justice, Equity and Diversity
   • Community Engagement
   • Advocacy in Education
2. Explain the importance of having more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) educators in public education.