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NEC Scholarship Application and Teacher Information

The Jump$tart National Educator Conference is an all-scholarship event, which means that teachers interested in attending must apply for a scholarship (unless you have already received one from one of our participating Partners or State Coalitions). The scholarship application deadline was August 14, 2026.  Scholarship award announcements will begin on Labor Day.

Important teacher information for 2026: First-round scholarship recipients will be notified on or around Labor Day and will include instructions on registration. Teachers not selected in the first round will also be notified at that time and will have the opportunity to ask to be wait-listed. First-round scholarship recipients will have until September 18 to accept their scholarship and register for the conference. Please note: there is no self-pay option. Once all the teacher scholarships are awarded, the conference will be at physical capacity. If you were not able to apply this year, we hope you will follow us on social media @Jumpstart1995 and/or subscribe to our free newsletters to be among the first to receive announcements about the 2027 event.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

If you receive a scholarship, the following will be covered:

  • 2-night stay at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center
  • Fully covered conference participation
  • 6 conference meals
2026 NEC Online Brochure

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.

Download Scholarship Criteria

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.

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

Subscribe to our free e-newsletters — Financial Fridays and the Teacher Spotlight — and/or follow us on social media @Jumpstart1995 to be among the first to receive announcements about the 2027 conference.

Visit this section of our website to learn about Jump$tart Financial Foundations for Educators Online, a free, comprehesive, self-paced professional development course designed to improve teachers’ own level of financial literacy and financial confidence.

And, please consider professional development opportunities offered by our National Partners and network of affiliated State Coalitions.

Let us know if you have additional questions and thank you for all you do in your classrooms every day!