Grants, awards and scholarships

Amount: Up to $6,000

Recipients: One per application period

Details

The ATA is a stakeholder of the Alberta Advisory Committee for Educational Studies (AACES) committee. The University of Lethbridge, University of Calgary and University of Alberta are the other members.

The AACES grant is awarded for projects designed to improve teacher preparation or benefit elementary and secondary education. Preference is given to projects investigating educational issues or questions.

To be eligible, you must be affiliated with one of the contributing organizations (the ATA, U of L, U of C or U of A) and meet one of the following categories:

• ATA member (certificated teacher)
• Faculty of education sessional instructor, member, professor emeritus, adjunct or postdoctoral fellow

How to apply

Deadline: By 4:30 pm on October 15 and June 1

Selection: The committee chooses the recipients.  

More information on AACES

For more questions, please contact Molly Garstad at molly.garstad@ata.ab.ca.

Amount: $15,000

Annual recipients: Up to two annually

Details

Each year, up to two doctoral fellowships are awarded to members who are entering or enrolled in their first year of full-time study towards a PhD in Education or EdD at recognized public universities in Alberta or Canada.

Applicants are evaluated on exemplary K-12 teaching practice, contribution to the ATA and public education in Alberta, academic achievement and the potential impact of their doctoral research.

To be eligible, you must:

• hold an Alberta permanent professional teaching certificate;
• have completed at least 5 years (or 700 days equivalent) of successful K-12 teaching in Alberta while holding the highest level of ATA membership possible (ie, active or associate membership);
• at the time of application, be a member in good standing at the highest level of ATA membership possible;
• be entering or in your first year of full-time study in a doctoral program in education offered by a recognized public university in Alberta, or in Canada (if your doctoral program is offered in French or your program of study is not available at an Alberta-based university);
• not have previously received an Association doctoral fellowship; and
• not have applied concurrently for the Nadene M Thomas Graduate Research Bursary or the belairdirect Award for Learning and Leadership.

Fellowships are paid in two equal instalments in September and January once proof of continued full-time registration is received. Recipients must provide the ATA with a printed bound copy and a digital copy of their completed dissertation.

How to apply

Deadline: 5 pm on February 28, annually.

Selection: A selection committee will review all eligible applications in mid-April and forward recommendations to the May meeting of Provincial Executive Council. Applicants will hear whether they were successful by the end of May.

Application form: Please ensure that you carefully read and complete the application form below. Incomplete application packages, those received after the deadline, and those that contain additional unsolicited documents (such as resumes and extra letters of reference) will be rejected.

The ATA Educational Trust provides bursaries and grants to help teachers pay for professional development.

Amount: $2,500

Recipients: Up to one annually

Details

Each year, Belairdirect sponsors one scholarship to support a member so they can pursue post-secondary coursework in business education or the use of computer technology in education. 

Applicants are evaluated on exemplary K-12 teaching practice, contribution to the ATA and public education in Alberta and the potential impact of their course work on their professional practice and the professional practice of others.

To be eligible, you must:

• hold an Alberta permanent professional teaching certificate;
• have completed at least 5 years (or 700 days equivalent) of successful K-12 teaching in Alberta while holding the highest level of ATA membership possible (ie, active or associate membership);
• at the time of application, be a member in good standing at the highest level of ATA membership possible;
• be registered in or planning to register for a single course or a course that is part of a certificate, diploma or degree program offered by a recognized public university, college or technical institute in Canada that focuses on business education and/or the use of computer technology in education;
• not have previously received the Belairdirect Scholarship or John Mazurek—Morgex Insurance Scholarship; and
• not have applied concurrently for the Nadene M Thomas Graduate Research Bursary or the ATA Doctoral Fellowships in Education.

Along with the applicability of the study area, the Association will consider your contribution to the ATA and to public education, as well as your exemplary teaching practice in the K–12 public education system in Alberta. 

The scholarship will be paid in full once proof of registration is received.

Note: Belairdirect also sponsors the Belairdirect Insurance Centennial Fund for Teacher Development, administered by the ATA Educational Trust

How to apply

Deadline: 5 pm on February 28, annually.

Selection: A selection committee will review all eligible applications in mid-March and will forward its recommendations to the April meeting of Provincial Executive Council. Applicants will hear whether they were successful by the end of April.

Application form: Please ensure that you carefully read and complete the application form below. Incomplete application packages, those received after the deadline, and those that contain additional unsolicited documents (such as resumes and extra letters of reference) will be rejected.

Amount: $5,000

Recipients: One

Details

The Educational Research Award recognizes a faculty of education member or sessional lecturer at an Alberta university or university college who has undertaken high-quality research on classroom teaching and learning.

Along with involving Alberta teachers or students, the research must

• relate directly to school and classroom practice;
• focus on school teaching and/or learning;
• be current (either ongoing or completed within the last two years);
• address critical issues;
• be applicable to the Alberta context;
• provide practical benefit to teachers to improve their professional practice; and
• demonstrate high quality with respect to purpose, methodology and originality.

How to apply

Deadline: May 15

Selection: A panel of four Association representatives and one retired faculty of education professor will  review the applications and select a recipient.

Previous award recipients

Amount: $5,000

Recipients: Up to one annually

Details

The research bursary is provided to a member in a graduate program in education offered by a recognized public university in Canada. Research must focus on contemporary issues impacting professional practice or public education, and/or innovative approaches to teaching or school leadership.

Applicants are evaluated on exemplary K-12 teaching practice, contribution to the ATA and public education in Alberta, academic achievement and the potential impact of their graduate research.

To be eligible, you must:

• hold an Alberta permanent professional teaching certificate;
• have completed at least 5 years (or 700 days equivalent) of successful K-12 teaching in Alberta while holding the highest level of ATA membership possible (ie, active or associate membership);
• at the time of application, be a member in good standing at the highest level of ATA membership possible;
• be registered in any year of a graduate certificate, diploma or master’s degree program in education offered by a recognized public university in Canada;
• intend to complete or are currently completing a culminating research project (capstone, thesis or other culminating activity worth at least 3.0 credit hours) that focuses on contemporary issues impacting professional practice or public education, or innovative approaches to teaching or school leadership;
• not have previously received the Nadene M Thomas Graduate Research Bursary; and
• not have applied concurrently for the ATA Doctoral Fellowship or the belairdirect Scholarship.

The bursary is granted in two instalments: first, on receipt of the award and second, when the ATA receives the completed research (digital copy and printed, bound copy).

How to apply

Deadline: 5 pm on February 28, annually

Selection: A selection committee will review all eligible applications in mid-March and will forward its recommendations to the April meeting of Provincial Executive Council. Applicants will hear whether they were successful by the end of April.

Application form: Please ensure that you carefully read and complete the application form below. Incomplete application packages, those received after the deadline, and those that contain additional unsolicited documents (such as resumes and extra letters of reference) will be rejected.

Amount: Up to $2,000

Recipients:

Details

The Diversity, Equity and Human Rights (DEHR) Committee  provides grants for special projects that promote the following principles:

• Diversity: Every person should be accepted and respected. Our differences make us stronger.
• Equity: Everyone should be treated fairly and given the chance to do their best. Equity means being aware of how certain groups or individuals can be treated unfairly because of their privilege (the power or position they hold in society).
• Human rights: Everyone has the same rights to live in a society that is fair, peaceful and free, no matter your ethnicity, religion, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities, age, marital or family status, your social class or language background.

If your application is approved, half of the grant is paid in the spring or fall. The rest is paid after the accounting and evaluation report is submitted.

See a sample of past grant proposals

Criteria for Grant Projects

1. Projects must focus on education or communication and should advance knowledge, develop skills and foster inclusive behaviour among students, teachers and the community. Some suggestions for project themes include:
   • Antiracism education
   • Gender equity
   • Intercultural education
   • Poverty issues
   • Violence prevention
   • Discrimination based on political beliefs, marital status, parental status, race,  level of education, physical ability, mental health, occupation, income, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical characteristics, mental ability, ancestry, level of education, age/generation, religious beliefs, etc.
2. Projects must reflect the principles of diversity, equity and human rights.
3. Projects must be sustainable; which is to say that they should be designed to have a lasting impact on students, teachers, and the community.
4. Project proposals that will not be considered include
   • Indigenous Education Initiatives (Please apply to the Indigenous Education Grant Program)
   • one-time events that are not linked to a broader school or local action plan;
   • materials or services ordinarily purchased with school or local funds (books, salaries, substitute costs, capital equipment and technology);
   • projects that support fundraising events;
   • funding for individual teacher professional development; and,
   • funding for locally developed courses.

Application Guidelines

Projects will be approved for funding by the Diversity, Equity and Human Rights Committee based on how well they meet the purpose and criteria outlined above.

1. Grant applications must include a description of the project, goal(s), evaluation procedures, timeline and budget. Include any others sources of funding. The project must occur during the upcoming school year.
2. One-half of the grant is will be paid in the spring or fall following the approval of the grant application.
3. A budget report including paid receipts for all funds and an evaluation report is required on completion of the project, after which the balance of the grant will be paid. Criteria for the final report will be shared with successful applicants. Final reports are due by March 30 each year.
4. Only one application will be considered each year. In addition to applications submitted by schools in a local’s corresponding school division, each local may submit one application per year for a project organized by the local or its committees.

How to apply

Deadline: By 5 pm on March 30

Selection: Based on how well applicants meet the outlined criteria 

DEHR grant application form 

(ce formulaire est également disponible en français)

Amount: Up to $2,000

Details

The Indigenous Education Initiatives Grant Program supports innovative projects that foster community connections and contribute to fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls' Calls for Justice.

If your application is approved, half of the grant will be paid in the spring or late fall. The remaining half will be disbursed upon submission and approval of the project report, along with all receipts accounting for the full grant amount.

Criteria for Grant Projects

1. Focus on Indigenous Education:

Initiatives must emphasize the development and integration of Indigenous education within the school community. These initiatives can vary and may include, but are not limited to:

• Land-based learning 
• Indigenizing student learning spaces  
• Indigenous Language Revitalization
• Mentorship Program
• Indigenous Artist in Residence program  
• Relationship building with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Communities and Organizations 

2. Alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples UNDRIP:

Projects must align with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action affirming the objectives and principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) focusing on education.

3. Sustainability and Lasting Impact:

Projects must be sustainable and should be designed to have a lasting impact on students, teachers, and communities.

4. Ineligible Projects:

The following types of project proposals will not be considered:

• one-time events that are not linked to a broader school or local action plan;
• materials or services ordinarily purchased with school or local funds (books, salaries, substitute costs, capital equipment and technology);
• projects that support fundraising events;
• funding for individual teacher professional development; and,
• funding for locally developed courses.

Application Guidelines

Projects will be approved for funding by the Indigenous Education Committee based on how well they meet the purpose and criteria outlined above.

1. Grant applications must include a description of the project, goal(s), evaluation procedures, timeline and budget. Include any other sources of funding. The project must occur during the upcoming school year.
2. One-half of the grant will be paid in the spring or late fall following the approval of the grant application.
3. Upon project completion, a final budget report, including paid receipts totalling the grant amount, and an evaluation report must be submitted. The remaining balance of the grant will be released once these documents are received. Criteria for the final report will be provided to successful applicants. Final reports are due by April 30 each year.
4. Only one application will be considered each year. In addition to applications submitted by schools in a local’s corresponding school division, each local may submit one application per year for a project organized by the local or its committees.

How to apply

Deadline: By 5 pm on March 30

Selection: Applicants will be chosen based on how well they meet the outlined criteria, as determined by the Indigenous Education Committee and approved by the Provincial Executive Council.

Indigenous Education Initiatives Grant Application

Amount: $250 plus $1 per member with the option of doubling this amount for the mental health supplement

Recipients: varies

Details

The Local Community Relations Grant program supports locals that are planning and creating activities that profile public education and portray teachers as the active and concerned citizens they are.

Looking for ideas? Check out the Community Relations Grants booklet for examples of activities carried out by locals across Alberta.

Double your Community Relations Grant

The ATA works with the Alberta division of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to promote mental health, discourage the negative stigma often associated with mental illness, and provide teachers with information resources to help them support students with mental health needs.

Locals are encouraged to use their Community Relations Grants for activities that promote the mental health of children and youth. These activities will double your Community Relations Grant, meaning that your local will be eligible for up to $500, plus $2 per member, for community relations projects that are connected to mental health issues.

About CMHA Alberta division

We encourage locals to work with regional CMHA staff and neighbouring locals to develop programs that promote public education and portray teachers as active and concerned about the mental health of children and youth. In some cases, sponsorship opportunities already exist. Additional information about CMHA is available at www.cmha.ab.ca.

How to apply

Deadline: Throughout the school year

Winning applicants must submit a brief write-up of the completed project, detailing the outcomes and successes. Photos submitted with identifiable people must include signed consent forms. Consent forms and more details will be provided once grant recipients have been chosen.

Contact: government@ata.ab.ca

Amount: 45 cents per kilometre or the cost of airfare, $130.00 per night for commercial accommodation or $65.00 per night for noncommercial accommodation, $37.50 per full- or partial-day meeting, with an extra day’s subsistence each way allowed for travel of 400 kilometres or more to the meeting site.

Recipients: Varies

Details

Grant-in-aids help locals with the cost of sending representatives to provincial ATA meetings.

How to apply

Deadline: Within one month of the meeting

Application form: Ask your local executive for the form

Amount: Variable

Recipients: Local presidents

Details

Awarded to locals that provide release time for presidents of at least 0.1 FTE

How to apply

Deadline:  January 31 each year

Application form: Local Presidents' Release Time Application

Amount: Variable

Recipients: One annually per eligible local

Details

Awarded to locals to assist with financial burden resulting from sparse teacher population and large geographic size

How to apply

Deadline:  ongoing

Application form: No application form necessary. Locals should contact ATA Finance for more information.

Amount: $2,000 over three years

Details

This grant supports the creation of a mentorship steering committee to plan, promote, monitor and evaluate the beginning teacher mentorship program.

The steering committee must include representation from the ATA local, school jurisdiction and the provincial ATA.

How to apply

Deadline: June 30

Amount: up to $600

Details

This grant supports locals that strive to develop meaningful relationships between them and elected officials.

It may be paid in two installments, the first to a maximum of $300 on approval of a political engagement plan, the remainder on receipt of expenses and a report of the activities.

How to apply

Deadline: Ongoing
 

Amount: $1,000 plus $0.50 per member

Details

This grant is awarded to locals that work toward electing a government that supports policies that are good for public education.

The ATA does not align with any political party, but we encourage locals to engage members in the election process, inform candidates of ATA policy, inform the public of the high stakes for education in provincial elections, and engage stakeholders to promote the importance of public education.

Below are some of the activities that are eligible for funding:

• All-candidates forum
• Candidate and teacher meet-and-greet
• Candidates’ tour of schools
• Profiling education issues among members via local publications
• Surveying candidates and profiling their responses in a special election newsletter

Activities that align with the general strategy and follow these guidelines will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.

How to apply

Deadline: Varies

Amount: Up to $2,000 (matching grant)

Details

As a professional organization, the Association is facing significant changes. To adapt to these changes, the Association engages in strategic planning and actively encourages all of its subgroups—convention associations, locals and specialist councils—to develop long-term strategic plans of their own. To help subgroups engage in this kind of planning, the Association offers matching grants of up to $2,000 each to support initiatives that would not be covered under normal subgroup operations. Subgroups can use these grants to offset the costs of organizing strategic planning activities to discuss their plans and set long-term goals. ATA staff are also available to support strategic planning activities and to clarify the relationship between the organization’s strategic framework and the leadership role of the subgroup.

How to apply

Deadline: There are two deadlines per year: October 15 and January 15. Applicants who weren’t successful in the first round can be considered in the second round.

Selection: Based on previous strategic planning efforts, indication of working with other subgroups and alignment with the ATA’s strategic framework.

Amount: Up to $2,000

Details

This grant supports local Women in Leadership committees or groups of teachers who are planning a project or event promoting gender equity in teaching.

The options for planning are varied: you could start a local sharing circle, a support group for caregivers in the teaching profession, or develop policies at your local level to support gender equity, career planning and mentorship projects. 
If your application is approved, half of the grant is paid upon approval, with the remainder being paid upon submission of the final report that outlines the project’s activities. 

How to apply

Deadline: March 15, 2025

Selection: Based on how well applicants meet the outlined criteria 

Apply now

Amount: A base grant per specialist council sufficient to cover the administrative costs of council operations for one year, plus an additional prorated amount based on the relative number of active, associate and student members in each council.

Recipients: Paid annually to Association specialist councils

Details

Specialist council grants are transferred to each of the Association’s specialist councils annually to fund council operations. The membership portion of the grant is based on council membership data from the previous fiscal year. Provincial Executive Council may reduce a council’s base grant if the council’s surplus exceeds the maximum listed in Association policy for two or more years. 

How to apply

Deadline: Ongoing

To apply: No application is necessary. Grants are calculated and distributed by Association staff. E-mail pd@ata.ab.ca for more information.

Amount: Up to 50 per cent of total cost or $2,000, whichever is less

Recipients: Each specialist council can apply for one special project grant per year.

Details

Additional grants (up to the amount listed in the budget notes for the Specialist Council Field Service budget line) are available to encourage specialist councils to collaborate with:

• le Conseil français to develop professional development experiences or resources that will support the needs of French and Francophone members; and
• other councils or Association staff on novel projects that will provide value to members or that respond to emergent needs.

How to apply

Deadline: Ongoing

Selection: Access to special project grant funds will require the completion of an application that outlines the project’s goals, deliverables, budget (including the amount requested, sources of other revenue, anticipated expenses) and timelines. Applications are reviewed regularly by the Association’s Table Officers Committee. Applications from specialist councils with surpluses that exceed the maximum listed in Association policy will not be considered.

To apply: E-mail pd@ata.ab.ca.

Amount: $1,000 plus $5 per member for the first 200 members and $3 per member thereafter, based on the membership as at October 31 of the year for which the grant is paid

Recipients: One annually per student local

Details

This grant helps fund student local expenses. To be eligible, the student local needs to submit part one and two of their local’s annual report, the student membership list, plus $1 per student member.

How to apply

Deadline:  October 31 annually

Application form: For more information, contact locals@ata.ab.ca. 

Amount: $75 per delegate

Recipients: Up to six delegates annually per eligible student local

Details

This grant supports attendance at the Western Canadian Association for Student Teaching conference

How to apply

Deadline: February 1 annually

Application form: Please submit grant request and the names of attending delegates to locals@ata.ab.ca.  

Amount: 18-karat gold-plated medal + $2,000 per recipient

Recipients: 1 graduating BEd student at every recognized teacher education program in Alberta (13 total)

Details

The ATA Gold Medals in Education are presented annually to the top overall student based on coursework and field experiences. These awards recognize the talent of up-and-coming leaders in the field of education and reinforce the Association’s public commitment to maintain high standards of excellence in the profession. The ATA has a long history of presenting gold medals to education graduates at the University of Alberta, Campus Saint-Jean, the University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge.

Starting in the 2024/25 academic year, ATA Gold Medals in Education will also be awarded at:

• Ambrose University
• Concordia University of Edmonton
• Keyano College*
• Medicine Hat College*
• Mount Royal University
• Northwestern Polytechnic*
• Red Deer Polytechnic
• St Mary’s University
• The King’s University

*The medals awarded to Keyano College and Northwestern Polytechnic graduates will be administered by the University of Alberta. The medals presented to Medicine Hat College graduates will be administered by Mount Royal University.

How to Apply

There is no need to apply for this award. Recipients are chosen by faculty each spring.

If you have any questions about the ATA Gold Medals in Education, please contact pd@ata.ab.ca