Section 16-23-24

Teacher Education Scholarship Loan Program established; use; subsequent obligations; funding; rule-making authority; provisions for current scholarship recipients.

(a) Effective October 1, 1993, there is established a Teacher Education Scholarship Loan Program (hereinafter referred to as "the program") to provide for the education of certified, employed public school teachers to be trained in the use of integrating technology skills in the curriculum. First priority shall be given to those certified public school teachers in the fields of English, science, mathematics, and social science and history and those who teach pupils in kindergarten to grade six, inclusive. Twenty-five percent of the funds available through this program shall be targeted for minority teachers. When moneys are available for scholarship loans for teachers above and beyond the first priority group, the State Board of Education shall designate other critical needs areas for scholarship loans.

(b) A scholarship loan received by a teacher under the program may be used to pursue a master's degree in a designated field with a concentration of not less than three three-semester-hour courses, or the equivalent, in the new technologies. Any teacher qualifying for a scholarship loan may receive a scholarship loan for courses for credit or for non-credit.

(c) Any scholarship loan recipient who receives credit for the additional education shall teach in the public schools for at least three years after completing the master's degree. Any recipient who has obtained a master's degree prior to receiving a loan under this section, shall not be obligated to teach the three years. Any recipient who fails to complete the courses for which the scholarship loan is received shall repay the Alabama Commission on Higher Education the amount of the loan with interest from the date the scholarship loan is received at the prevailing rate charged recipients of non-need-based federal guaranteed student loans. Repayment in full shall be completed within 10 years.

(d) There is created the Teacher Education Scholarship Loan Trust Fund. The fund shall be a non-reverting fund used by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to provide scholarship loans under this program. Annual appropriations from the Education Trust Fund shall be made to the fund. Scholarship loan repayments and interest proceeds shall be deposited in the fund.

(e) The Alabama Commission on Higher Education shall make reasonable rules and regulations for implementing this section.

(f) Any undergraduate student enrolled in a teacher education program and receiving a scholarship under Section 16-6A-11 and any student who is a recipient of an emergency secondary education scholarship under Section 16-23-18 on May 13, 1993, shall continue until completion of their program. Any funds available for the emergency secondary education scholarships shall be transferred to the Teacher Education Scholarship Loan Fund and any funds to be paid the Alabama Commission on Higher Education shall be paid to the Teacher Education Scholarship Loan Fund.

(Acts 1993, No. 93-636, p. 1091, §§1-6.)