Agricultural Education Preservice Internship Program
Funds Illinois universities and community colleges to recruit, develop, and retain agricultural education teachers through preservice internships and statewide initiatives.
Funder: Illinois State Board of Education
Due Dates: October 7, 2026 (projected annual deadline, based on prior cycles)
Funding Amounts: Typically $40,000 per university and $20,000 per community college per year; total program funding ~$320,000 annually; renewable up to 3 years.
Summary: Supports statewide internships and initiatives to recruit, develop, and retain agricultural education teachers for Illinois middle and secondary schools.
Key Information: Applications must be submitted via the ISBE IWAS system; only Illinois institutions with ag teacher prep programs are eligible.
Description
This program is a competitive, state-funded initiative to address the shortage of agricultural educators in Illinois by supporting preservice internship experiences and coordinated recruitment, development, and retention activities. Managed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the program funds universities and community colleges with agricultural education teacher preparation programs to implement structured internships, strengthen agricultural content knowledge, foster statewide collaboration among preservice teachers, and increase industry engagement. The program is governed by the Agricultural Education Administrative Rules and aims to build a robust, high-quality pipeline of future agricultural teachers for Illinois schools.
