The Electa Quinney Institute (EQI) at UW–Milwaukee has once again received funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education (OIE) to increase the number of American Indian teachers and school leaders in Wisconsin. EQI has been a long-standing recipient of OIE Professional Development funding since the early 2000s.

About the Programs

Under the project title Kinship and Responsibility: Electa Quinney Indigenous Teacher and Administrator Training Programs, EQI recruits, supports, and prepares American Indian individuals to become licensed teachers and administrators throughout Wisconsin.

What the Grant Covers

Participants receive financial support while pursuing licensure in approved programs at UW–Milwaukee (or other eligible UW campuses for the teacher track). Funding includes:

Tuition and fees
Required books and materials
Initial licensure exams
One-time laptop allowance (if needed)
Stipend for general living expenses

Important: All supported programs must lead to state licensure. Grant funding is contingent on a federal service work payback obligation, meaning participants must work in a qualifying school serving Native students after graduation. If not fulfilled, a cash repayment is required.

Eligibility

To apply, you must:

Identify as American Indian or Alaska Native (enrolled or descendant)
Be pursuing a licensure-based degree in teaching or school administration
Have completed at least 2 years of undergraduate coursework (24–30 credits) for teacher training
Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis

Ready to Apply?

At this time our K&R Administrator Training application is now closed. We are however still accepting K&R Teacher Training applications!

Kinship and Responsibility: Electa Quinney Indigenous Teachers Training Program Application. Click here to get started.

Additional Notes on the Ed Admin Program

Students are not technically required to hold a teaching license when entering the program, but the curriculum is designed for those currently working in PreK–12 settings.

Wisconsin DPI requires for principal licensure:

A valid teaching license
A master’s degree
Three years of teaching or student services experience

Best fit: Applicants who already hold a teaching license or work in a choice school where licensure is not required.

Starting 2026: New Ed Admin students can begin in summer or fall terms.

Understanding the Service Obligation

Participants must complete a work payback equal to the number of months they receive funding. Work must:

Be in your field of study
Benefit American Indian students

Example:

24 months of funding = 24 months of work in a qualifying school serving Native students.

Note: Employment in private schools does not fulfill the obligation.

For details on qualifying schools, refer to the attached documents. If your school/district meets or exceeds the state LEA average percentage of AIAN students, it qualifies. Additional verification may be required for schools not listed. Please note, these lists may change.

>Pdf List 1

>Pdf List 2