Noyce Fellowship

Santa Clara University’s Noyce Fellowship Program is committed to improving mathematics learning opportunities for students from traditionally underrepresented populations. SCU Noyce Fellows are dedicated to using education as a tool for social justice and are committed to teaching mathematics in a high-need school district for at least four years after graduation. Our program focuses on supporting teachers to implement equity-based mathematics teaching strategies, teach for mathematical sense making and a growth mindset, and work effectively with English Language Learners in mathematics. With support from the National Science Foundation (Grant No.1950329) and Santa Clara University, Noyce Fellows receive generous funding and extensive professional development support throughout their time in SCU’s Master of Arts in Teaching and Teaching Credential (MATTC) program and their first four years of teaching.

The SCU Noyce Teaching Fellowship provides a full tuition scholarship plus a $20,000 living stipend while completing the MATTC program. Upon graduation, Noyce Fellows receive four years of extensive professional development support and a $10,000 annual living stipend during each of those four years.

In addition to significant financial assistance, fellows will receive:

• Priority for hiring in our partner districts -- all racially, ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse Title 1 districts that are committed to providing equitable and high quality learning opportunities for all students,
• Intensive mentoring and coaching from an experienced educator for all fellowship years,
• Carefully planned beginning teacher support during the first two years of teaching,
• Leadership development,
• Opportunities to teach in Silicon Valley Education Foundation’s Summer Elevate Math program,
• 6 academic units that will count towards an Administrative Services Credential, and
• Many opportunities to participate in mathematics education networking and community events.

Clinical practicum (also known as student teaching) is a critical component for our MATTC teacher preparation program. Noyce Fellows complete their practicum at a high-need school in East San Jose, California and will receive support from an experienced teacher and university supervisor with expertise in research-backed approaches to mathematics instruction.

Upon graduation and receipt of their teaching credential, Noyce Fellows are required to complete four years of teaching in a high-need school district within six years of completing the MATTC program. If fellows are unable to complete the four-year teaching commitment in the required time period, the past fellowship payments will become a repayable loan.

Requirements:

• Must have completed Bachelor’s Degree in an NSF approved STEM-related field
• Demonstrate evidence of mathematical content knowledge: This can include a transcript that demonstrates strong knowledge of mathematics or passing scores in the CSET Math exams at time of application.
• All applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. 
• NOTE: Although passing scores on the CBEST and CSET are not required parts of your application, all students will be required to provide passing scores on CBEST and CSET exams.

Application Procedures:

• STEP 1: Complete MATTC application:
  • Recent experience working with youth in a formal education-related setting (minimum 30 hours)
  • Resume or CV
  • Two letters of recommendation (one from an individual that has observed you working with youth and one that can speak to your academic/professional abilities)
  • Statement of purpose related to experience working with youth
• STEP 2: respond to Noyce application prompt in the MATTC application: Why do you want to teach mathematics in a high-need school?
• STEP 3: Finalists will be interviewed upon review of completed application

1. I did not major in mathematics. Am I still eligible to apply for the Noyce Fellowship? Yes, as long as you majored in a STEM related field you are eligible to apply- See the NSF approved STEM disciplines.

All applicants must demonstrate evidence of mathematical content knowledge, which can include a transcript that demonstrates significant coursework in mathematics or passing scores in the CSET Math exams at the time of application. 

2. What are the CSET tests? In order to earn a Single Subject Mathematics Teaching Credential in California you must pass three CSET tests, which cover various mathematical content areas such as algebra, geometry, statistics, and calculus. For Noyce Fellows, these tests must be passed by May 1, 2021 if beginning the MATTC program in June 2021 or by April 1, 2022 if beginning the MATTC program in June 2022. Click here to learn more about and register for the Math CSET tests.

3. What is considered a high-need school district? A high-need school district has at least one school that meets one of the following NSF criteria:

1. Serves low income communities: 50% or more of the enrolled students are eligible for participation in the free and reduced price lunch program,
2. Has a large percentage of teachers who are teaching outside of their areas of expertise: More than 34% of the academic classroom teachers at the secondary level (across all academic subjects) do not have an undergraduate degree with a major or minor in, or a graduate degree in, the academic field in which they teach the largest percentage of their classes OR more than 34% of the teachers in two of the academic departments do not have an undergraduate degree with a major or minor in, or a graduate degree in, the academic field in which they teach the largest percentage of their classes, or
3. Has high teacher turnover: A teacher attrition rate that has been 15 percent or more over the last three school years.

4. How long do I have to fulfill my teaching commitment? In the absence of documented hardship (e.g., illness, family care hardships), fellows must complete four years of teaching in a high-need district within six years of completing the MATTC program. 

5. What happens if I am unable to fulfill my four year teaching commitment? If fellows are unable to complete the four-year teaching commitment in the required time period, the past fellowship payments will become a repayable loan.

6. I submitted my MATTC and Noyce Fellowship applications. When will I be contacted for an interview? All competitive Noyce Fellowship applicants (finalists) will be contacted to schedule an interview within three weeks of receipt of a completed application.

7. I am currently enrolled in the MATTC program, can I apply to be a Noyce Fellow? Unfortunately, current MATTC candidates are not eligible to apply for the Noyce Fellowship. Only candidates beginning the MATTC program in June 2021 or June 2022 are eligible for the fellowship.

8. What type of credential will I earn? Upon completion of the MATTC program SCU Noyce Fellows will earn a California Preliminary Single Subject Mathematics Credential. During their first years of teaching, fellows will receive support to clear their credential and attain a California Clear Single Subject Mathematics Credential.

9. What are SCU's Noyce partner school disctricts? Currently, Alum Rock School District (https://www.arusd.org/) and East Side Union High School District (http://www.esuhsd.org/) are considered SCU Noyce Fellowship partner school districts. Noyce Fellows will do their student teaching in these districts and will have priority hiring in these districts for employment upon graduation.

10. Do I need to pass all three CSET exam? If you want a Foundational-Level Math Credential, which only allows you to teach limited mathematics content areas (typically up to 9th grade), then you only need to pass CSETs 1 and 2. If you want to teacher high school mathematics, then you will need a Mathematics Credential and will need to pass CSETs 1, 2, and 3.