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.

• A complete application consists of the online application and two recommendation forms.

CTA recognizes the shortage of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) educators in California. The goal of the Fund is to encourage 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.

Total BIPOC students – 77.66% (2022-2023) California Dept. of Education

Total BIPOC teachers – 34.1% (2018-2019) Due to COVID-19 there is no data for 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022  and 2022-2023 from California Dept. of Education.

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 the summer or fall semester of 2025

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 (CTA-AE)

To receive the scholarship, the active CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) 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
• 2 Recommendation Forms – 20 pts
• Activities and achievements – 20 pts

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, 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.

Note: Statement must be 350 words or fewer

This scholarship is supported by voluntary contributions from the CTA membership and the CTA Foundation for Teaching and Learning. Scholarships vary each year depending on the amount of contributions and on the financial need of individual applicants. Past recipients have received up to $6,000. Priority consideration will be given to those who have not previously received a Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship.

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

Any member or chapter may designate a memorial contribution to the CTA Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. The bereaved is sent a notice which acknowledges a contribution to the fund in memory of the deceased and naming the donor. The contributor receives a receipt for use in preparing income tax deduction claims. Additional contributions may be made in honor of individuals and their achievements.

Send Donations To:
California Teachers Association
c/o Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Program
PO Box 921
Burlingame, CA 94011-0921

Make Checks Payable To:

CTA FOUNDATION
(In check memo line indicate Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Program)

The 2025-2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Committee:

Chris Cannon, Chair
Angela Der Ramos, Board Liaison
Robert Ellis, Board Liaison
Jermaine Brown
Dennis Canady
Tiffany Curry
Errol Garnett
Michael Jordan II
Anthony Larue
Cynthia Matthews
Gabriel Mendoza
Jayme Venderwege
Vanessa Yava

The members of the committee are approved by the CTA Board of Directors and represent a broad cross section of racial and BIPOC members.