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Important dates
2021-2022 Individual Teacher Bursary:
- Eligible courses, training and/or professional development must be completed between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022
- Application form deadline – Closed (March 1, 2022)
- Reimbursement form deadline – March 31, 2022 – Deadline Extended
2022-2023 Individual Teacher Bursary
- Eligible courses, training and/or professional development must be completed between April 1, 2022 and March 15, 2023
- Application form deadline – March 1, 2023
- Reimbursement form deadline – March 15, 2023
Overview
The Individual Teacher Bursary program will give eligible teachers up to $2,200 each year for post-secondary courses, training and professional development in French.
The Alberta government administers the program using federal funding provided through the Canada-Alberta Agreement for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction.
Bursaries are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Eligibility
Applicant eligibility
Eligible applicants must:
- hold a valid teaching certificate
- be a current resident of Alberta
- be a Canadian citizen or hold a Canadian permanent resident status (in accordance with the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act)
Eligible applicants must also be one of the following:
- a teacher (Kindergarten to Grade 12) currently teaching in a Francophone or French immersion program or teaching French as a second language course
- 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 French speaking administrator, librarian, counsellor, or other professional staff working with students who are learning French in a Francophone school or French immersion program, or studying French as a second language
- a French program consultant working with Francophone, French as a second language, or French immersion teachers
The bursary is not available to people already benefitting from or being paid by conference organizers.
Training and professional development eligibility
For the 2022-2023 bursary, training and other professional development must be offered in French in Canada between April 1, 2022 and March 15, 2023.
Training and professional development programs in St-Pierre-et-Miquelon are not eligible for the bursary program.
Courses related to doctorate programs are not eligible.
Funding
Eligible applicants can get up to $2,200 in a year to cover part of travel, tuition and registration costs.
Bursary awards paid directly to recipients are taxable.
The following costs are not reimbursed:
- substitute costs
- accommodation
- meals
- course materials
- internet access
- personal and other expenses not directly related to the course or professional development
Bursary amounts for courses
Table 1. Bursary amounts for courses
| Spring and summer courses (duration) | Maximum bursary amount available per course |
|---|---|
| One-week course | $600 |
| 2 week course | $800 |
| 3 week course | $1,000 |
| 4 week course | $1,200 |
| 5 or 6 week course | $1,400 |
| Credit courses | Maximum bursary amount available per course |
|---|---|
| 1.5 credit course | $450 |
| 3 credit course | $900 |
| 6 credit course | $1,800 |
Bursary amounts for professional development
Eligible applicants may receive up to $400 for conference or workshop registration costs.
Bursary amounts for travel
Eligible applicants may receive the following amounts for travel if they live more than 100 kilometres from a course or professional development opportunity in Alberta:
Table 2. Bursary amounts for travel within Alberta
| Distance | Amount |
|---|---|
| 100 to 250 km | $100 |
| 251 to 400 km | $150 |
| 401 to 600 km | $200 |
| 601 to 750 km | $250 |
| 750 km or more | $300 |
Eligible applicants may receive the following amounts for travel if a course or professional development is outside Alberta:
Table 3. Bursary amounts for travel outside Alberta
| Province | Amount |
|---|---|
| British Columbia | $300 |
| Saskatchewan | $300 |
| Manitoba | $400 |
| Ontario | $700 |
| Québec | $800 |
| New Brunswick | $825 |
| Nova Scotia | $850 |
| Prince Edward Island | $850 |
| Newfoundland | $925 |
How to apply
We do not accept application and reimbursement forms submitted after the deadlines.
PDF form issues
Fillable PDF forms do not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. To fill in and save the form:
- Save the PDF form to your computer – click or right-click the link and download the form.
- Open the PDF form with Adobe Reader. Fill it in and save it.
Contact us if you cannot open these forms.
Step 1. Complete the application form
Complete the 2022/23 Individual Teacher Bursary Program Application Form (PDF, 2.1 MB) and get your school principal or superintendent to sign it.
The application form deadline for the 2022-2023 Individual Teacher Bursary is March 1, 2023.
Step 2. Submit the application form
Email the completed form to [email protected] or mail it to Official Languages in Education Programs (OLEP).
We will let you know if your application is accepted approximately 4 weeks after we get it.
Step 3. If approved, complete the reimbursement form
After attending the professional development activity between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, complete the 2021/22 Individual Teacher Bursary Program Reimbursement Form (PDF, 2.1 MB).
After attending the professional development activity between April 1, 2022 and March 15, 2023, complete the 2022/23 Individual Teacher Bursary Program Reimbursement Form (PDF, 2.1 MB).
Include proof of course completion or conference participation, such as:
- transcripts
- confirmation of attendance
- a certificate of completion
The reimbursement form deadline for the 2022-2023 Individual Teacher Bursary is March 15, 2023.
Step 4. Submit the reimbursement form
Email the completed form to [email protected] or mail it to OLEP.
If approved, we will mail you a cheque within 8 weeks of receiving your reimbursement form.
Cancellations and substitutions
Contact us if your pre-approved course is cancelled or if you want to substitute a different course.
You must get approval for the substituted course to keep your bursary and qualify for reimbursement. Substituting a course may change the amount of money you get.
Conferences and institutions
The national conferences and educational institutions on this list do not offer all the possible options for eligible courses or training. We encourage you to explore other opportunities as well.
Contact the institution directly to learn more about programs they offer.
Contact
Connect with the Official Languages in Education Programs (OLEP):
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
9th floor, Commerce Place
10155 102 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4L5
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