NEC PreK-12 Teacher Scholarship Application

The Jump$tart National Educator Conference is an all-scholarship event, which means that teachers interested in attending must apply for a scholarship here (unless you have already received one from one of our participating Partners or State Coalitions). The scholarship application period will begin in April 2026. In the meantime, learn more about our scholarships by reviewing 2025 information, below.

Criteria and Considerations

The objective of the #JumpstartNEC Scholarship program is to advance financial literacy by bringing PreK-12 personal finance teachers to a national conference to discover information, ideas, resources, and a network of fellow educators from across the country.

Eligibility

Scholarship applicants must be licensed PreK-12 classroom teachers:

• Based in the United States or its territories or in a school serving U.S. citizens (such as on a military base).
• Currently employed by a PreK-12 public, private, or charter school, school district or school system –or– with confirmed employment at a PreK-12 public, private, or charter school, school district or school system for the 2026-2027 school year.
• With at least one full school year of teaching experience, as well as plans to teach for at least one full school year following the event.

Ineligibility

Prior Jump$tart National Educator Conference attendees who have egregiously and intentionally disregarded policies, caused damages onsite at the events, or have conducted themselves in an unprofessional manner may not be eligible to participate again.

Selection Criteria for First-Time Attendees

First-time attendees are teachers who have never attended the Jump$tart National Educator Conference in the past -or- who have not attended in the past five years. Jump$tart and its scholarship providers seek teachers from all parts of the country who, through their application, can demonstrate:
• A passion for the benefits of financial literacy for their students and others.
• A thoughtful plan to utilize the information, ideas, and resources obtained at the conference.
• A commitment to effectiveness in classroom-based financial education, beginning in their own.
Jump$tart and its supporters seek teachers who, through their application, can demonstrate:

Selection Criteria for Return Attendees

Teachers who have attended the Jump$tart NEC multiple times become part of a nationwide community of dedicated financial educators. Jump$tart and its scholarship providers seek teachers who, through their application, can demonstrate:
• A commitment to the broader financial literacy effort through participation in activities and initiatives beyond their own classrooms.
• Support for fellow educators, especially those new to the Jump$tart NEC and/or new to financial education in the classroom.
• A commitment to effectiveness in classroom-based financial education, as it continues to evolve.

Selection Priorities

Jump$tart strives for:
• A participation ratio of 30% returning attendees and 60% first-timers, leaving 10% as discretionary, either way. First-time attendees are teachers who have never attended the Jump$tart National Educator Conference in the past -or- who have not attended in the past five years.
• A participation ratio of 70% high school teachers, 10% middle grade teachers, and 10% elementary teachers, leaving 10% as discretionary across the categories.
• Representation across all states and territories but may be selected more heavily from some geographic areas and/or demographic categories based on preferences specified by our scholarship donors.

For More Information

Additional details about the 2026 Jump$tart National Educator Conference, as well as staff contact information, can be found on our website at www.jumpstart.org/education/nec . Scholarship applications will be accepted from PreK-12 classroom teachers from April 1 – August 14, 2026.

Thank you for your interest in the Jump$tart National Educator Conference and all that you do for our nation’s students.