Individual Teacher Bursary Program

Important dates

Overview

The Individual Teacher Bursary program provides eligible teachers up to $4,000 per year to support participation in courses (including master's and doctoral programs), conferences, and professional development activities focused on French-language learning, education, or pedagogy.

The program is administered by Alberta Education and Childcare and is funded through the Canada-Alberta Agreement for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction.

The bursary is intended to provide partial support for eligible activities with the expectation that recipients will contribute to remaining costs and will not seek or receive reimbursement for the same expenses from another funding source.

Bursaries are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the availability of funds.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must:

• hold a valid Alberta teaching certificate
• be a current resident of Alberta
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
• be currently employed or engaged in French-language education, for example:
  • a teacher (Kindergarten to Grade 12) in a francophone school or French immersion program or teaching French as a Second Language
  • a French speaking teacher on a secondment with an organization involved in the field of French teaching and learning
  • a teacher hired to teach French or in French in the coming school year
  • a substitute teacher, consultant, administrator, librarian, counsellor, or other professional staff involved in French-language education

Eligible courses, conferences, or professional development activities must:

• be undertaken in French
• take place in Canada
• occur between April 1 and March 31 of the program year
• support professional growth goals aligned with the applicant’s educational role

Funding

Eligible applicants may receive up to $4,000 per program year. Bursary amounts paid directly to recipients are taxable.

How to apply

Applications and reimbursement forms must be submitted by the stated deadlines to be considered.

Step 1. Apply for the bursary

• Complete the Application Form electronically. 
• Submit the completed and signed Application Form by email to [email protected] by March 1 of the program year.
•  Approval letters are issued within four weeks of receiving a completed application.
• If a pre-approved course is cancelled, changed, or replaced with a different course, the applicant must notify [email protected]. Continued eligibility for the bursary and reimbursement will be reviewed, and the approved bursary amount may be adjusted accordingly.

Step 2. Submit for payment

• Complete the Reimbursement Form electronically.
• Submit the completed and signed Reimbursement Form by email to [email protected] by March 31 of the program year.
• Include proof of completion, such as transcripts, confirmation of attendance, or a certificate of completion.
• Approved payments are issued within eight weeks of receiving a complete reimbursement package.

Conferences and institutions

The national conferences and educational institutions below offer a variety of eligible courses and professional development opportunities.

This bursary may also cover French courses offered through the Explore program at several Canadian post-secondary institutions.

We encourage you to explore other opportunities as well.

Contact

Connect with the Alberta Official Languages in Education Programs (OLEP) office:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-415-0614
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Official Languages in Education Programs (OLEP)
Intergovernmental Relations Branch
Alberta Education and Childcare
10th Floor, 44 Capital Boulevard
10044 108 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 5E6