APF Professional Development Awards for High School Psychology Teachers
Applicants may be awarded up to $1,000 to attend psychology conferences or meetings. While any conference or meeting will be considered for support, we especially want to encourage participation at APA 2026, which will be held in Washington, DC, August 6–8, 2026, and the 2026 Society for the Teaching of Psychology’s (APA Division 2) Annual Conference on Teachingopens in new window, which will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, October 15–17, 2026. Preference will be given to applicants seeking to attend either of those two conferences. Funds can be used to offset costs of travel, conference registration, and housing accommodations. Applicants must provide a budget for conference costs. These grants are made possible through the APF David and Carol Myers Fund to Support Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools.
$5,000 is available for funding.
The APA TOPSS Committee encourages applications from teachers who teach on-level psychology, are employed at a school serving low-income students and/or is classified as a Title 1 school, and/or have 3 years or less experience teaching psychology. However, any interested teacher can apply.
Disclaimer: Grant and award program equity statement
APA is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all aspects of its grant and award programs. We actively engage in outreach to all communities, seeking broad and inclusive participation.
Our selection process is merit-based and objective. Eligibility criteria relate directly to the specific skills, qualifications, and competencies required for each program. All applications are evaluated using objective, measurable criteria without regard to race, gender, or other protected characteristics.
APA is committed to regularly reviewing the criteria, application processes, and program structures to ensure inclusion and to eliminate any unintended obstacles that might limit broad participation.
APA’s grant and award programs maintain compliance with all applicable federal and state anti-discrimination laws.
Applicants must:
- Have taught at least one high school psychology course during the past academic year and expect to teach psychology in the next academic year.
- Be a high school teacher affiliate of the American Psychological Association (high school teacher affiliates are automatically members of the APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS)—see the high school teacher affiliate application).
Applicants must complete an application form by April 15. Applicants are asked to submit their resume or curriculum vitae through the application form.
Submit applicationopens in new window
Decisions will be based on need and funding availability. A panel of no fewer than three members appointed by the TOPSS Committee chair will make funding recommendations.
Award recipients will be announced by approximately May 15. Award recipients will be reimbursed their award amount following conference or meeting participation. Original receipts showing proof of payment will be required for reimbursement. Should covering meeting expenses present a hardship to the awardee, awards can be provided before costs are incurred, upon request. If the awardee is unable to participate in the meeting or conference, funding should be returned to APA.
Within 30 days of attending the conference or meeting, award recipients must submit a one-page summary of what he or she gained professionally from attending the conference/meeting and receipts for related expenses totaling at least the amount of the award.
Please contact Emily Leary Chesnes with questions.
