Educator Scholarships
Scholarships for Oklahoma Educators
Individuals currently employed as Oklahoma public school teachers or administrators may apply for a full scholarship by completing the online registration form and brief scholarship application. Each scholarship has an approximate value of $1,500 and covers the full cost of workshop participation, including tuition, meals, and lodging. Scholarships are provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and private donors, with additional funding from the Oklahoma Arts Council.
Scholarships are available to a large majority of eligible Oklahoma educators who apply, although availability varies by workshop and cannot be guaranteed. Applicants who register by August 23 will receive full consideration, and scholarship review will begin August 24. The application will remain open until all scholarship spaces have been filled.
Scholarships are not awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying earlier does not increase an applicant’s chances of receiving one. Applications are evaluated using several criteria, including:
- Prior scholarship attendance
- Scholarship availability within each workshop
- How closely the workshop relates to the applicant’s teaching area (i.e., Priority for workshop placement is given to educators whose teaching areas most closely align with the workshop subject.)
Scholarship recipients will be notified by August 28 and automatically registered for a workshop based on the preferences provided in their scholarship application. Educators who are not selected may be placed on the wait lists for up to three preferred workshops. They may also choose to pay the registration fee to secure a spot if availability remains.
Upon completing the workshop, participants receive a certificate for 18 hours of professional development.
Student teachers and substitute teachers are not eligible for scholarships.
Payments
OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS & ADMINISTRATORS
Rate includes tuition, meals (Thursday dinner through Sunday breakfast), and 3-nights lodging in a shared, double-occupancy room.
FREE (depending on scholarship availability)
+ $50 non-refundable application fee (due within three days of scholarship confirmation)
+ studio fee*
*Each workshop includes a studio fee to help cover the cost of materials, equipment, and other essential resources. This fee ensures every participant has access to the tools and supplies needed for a successful, hands-on experience. Studio fees range from $0 to $50, depending on the specific expenses and needs of each course. The exact studio fee for each workshop is listed below its course description.
If you are an educator who wishes to enroll immediately with no scholarship, see Registration & Workshop Rates.
Registration
REGISTRATION SCHEDULE
August 1, 2026
REGISTRATION OPENS
August 23, 2026
DEADLINE FOR FULL SCHOLARSHIP CONSIDERATION: Individuals currently employed as Oklahoma public school teachers and administrators may be considered for a full scholarship by completing an online registration form, which includes a brief scholarship application. Scholarship evaluation will begin on August 24, and applications will remain open until all spots are filled. While some applicants may choose to register early, scholarships are not awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. For full consideration, registering by August 23 is recommended—but applying earlier does not increase your chances of receiving a scholarship.
August 28, 2026
SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION NOTIFICATION: Educators who are selected for a scholarship must confirm their attendance to be registered in a workshop. Educators who are not selected for a scholarship will be added to the waiting list of up to three of their chosen workshops.
September 4, 2026
DEADLINE FOR SCHOLARSHIP ACCEPTANCE: Educators who are selected for a scholarship but do not confirm their attendance will be added to the waiting list of up to three of their chosen workshops.
Scholarship Considerations
Due to high demand for workshops, scholarship determinations will take into consideration teaching area relevancies, prior scholarship attendance, and scholarship availability. Those applying for a scholarship spot may list related classroom projects, teaching areas (e.g. music, art, English), etc. in their application. Priority will be given to applicants whose teaching areas most closely relate to the workshop course description. Priority will also be given to applicants who have not attended an OFAI workshop recently. Finally, some scholarship funds are restricted to geographical regions, so school districts may also be a factor in scholarship determinations.
If you are unable to attend a workshop for any reason, please notify the Oklahoma Arts Institute immediately so that your spot may be filled by an applicant from the waiting list. If you do not notify us of your cancellation or cancel fewer than 72 hours before the start of your workshop without a doctor's note or other evidence of an emergency, you will not be eligible for an OFAI scholarship in the future. Additionally, scholarship recipients who cancel after enrolling in a workshop two years in a row will not be eligible for a scholarship in the future.