Art Teachers Can Tap District Tuition Funding via Contracts

A practical guide from The Art of Education University (AOEU) explains how art teachers can use their employment contracts to secure tuition funding for graduate coursework and degrees. According to an AOEU alumni survey, 85% reported earning more money after completing graduate work, and over 40% used some form of district tuition funding. The article advises teachers to search contracts for terms like "reimburse," "tuition," "salary," "graduate," "master's," "transcript," and "accredit." It provides a Contract Audit Worksheet and lists key questions about reimbursement rates, caps, pre-approval, accreditation, and required documents. If no funding exists, teachers can explore professional development funds, school-sponsored scholarships, or join collective bargaining teams. AOEU promotes its Studio Art Certificates (18 graduate credits, online, 6-24 months) and master's degree programs (18-24 months, fully online) as pathways to salary increases. The guide emphasizes that coursework can be energizing and transformative, with examples like watercolor and ceramics courses. The article was published on The Art of Education website in September 2026.