Ala. Admin. Code r. 300-4-12-.11

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 12, September 30, 2024

Section 300-4-12-.11 - Eligible Applicants And Award Amounts For Loan Repayment Program

(1) Base Program: Beginning in the Fall 2022 semester new applicants will be eligible for the base loan repayment program for math and science teachers of three thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($3,750) per semester worked or $7,500 per year, for a maximum of four consecutive years, or to be eligible for the base loan repayment program for computer science teachers of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) per semester worked or $3,000 per year, for a maximum of four consecutive years an applicant shall satisfy all of the following:

(a) Be a graduate of an ALSBE approved program in math or science or computer science beginning with the Spring term of 2018, at the baccalaureate or master's level, from an approved institution leading to an initial middle level or secondary professional educator certificate endorsed in math or science or computer science that was issued based upon completion of the approved program in math or science or computer science. A teacher who only earns a passing score on the Praxis test in math or science or computer science to add a certificate endorsement for math or science or computer science, and who has not completed an entire approved program, does not satisfy this requirement.

(b) Holds a valid Alabama professional educator certificate endorsed in middle level or secondary math or science or computer science, or any combination of the three.

(c) Is teaching in an Alabama public school district or at an Alabama Public Charter School Commission approved charter school.

(d) Is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

(e) Is a resident of Alabama and provides documentation proving a permanent connection to the State of Alabama. The commission shall accept any one of the following as proof of residency:

1. A current valid Alabama driver license.

2. A current valid Alabama vehicle registration.

3. A current valid Alabama voter registration card.

(f) Has outstanding federal student loans, subsidized or unsubsidized.

(g) Teaches a schedule in which at least three-fourths of the full-time teaching load is comprised of math, science or computer science in an Alabama public school system.

(h) Satisfies additional continuing eligibility criteria established by the Commission. A recipient who receives a loan repayment award and continues to satisfy employment criteria shall continue to receive an award for the four-year limit regardless of whether the employing school system retains its acute shortage designation or the employing school is removed from the failing school list. If a recipient leaves an acute shortage system or a failing school, and accepts employment in a school system or school that does not hold an acute shortage system or failing school designation, the recipient shall no longer qualify to receive supplemental funds.

(i) Beginning in the fall semester of 2021, the benefits outlined above shall apply to the following eligible individuals, pending authorization to teach in Alabama and subsequent employment in an Alabama public school:

1. An individual who graduated beginning with the Spring term of 2018 forward from a regionally accredited college or university in Alabama or in another state who is certified to teach math, science, or computer science in another state, and who may or may not reside within Alabama.

2. An individual who resides in another state and is a graduate of an Alabama State Board of Education approved program in math, science, or computer science, at the baccalaureate or master's level, after the 2021 spring semester term, from an approved Alabama institution and who holds an initial middle-level or secondary professional educator certificate endorsed in math, science, or computer science that was issued based upon completion of the approved program in math, science, or computer science. A teacher who only earns a passing score on the Praxis test in math, science, or computer science to add a certificate endorsement for math, science, or computer science and who has not completed an entire approved program, does not satisfy this requirement.

3. The individuals shall also satisfy all of the following criteria:

(i) Hold a valid Alabama professional educator certificate endorsed in middle-level or secondary math, science, or computer science, or any combination of the three.

(ii) Teach a schedule in which at least three-fourths of the full-time teaching load is comprised of math, science, or computer science courses for which the teacher is properly certified in an Alabama public school system.

(iii) Be citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States.

(iv) Have outstanding federal student loans, subsidized or unsubsidized

(v) Satisfy additional continuing eligibility criteria established by the commission. A recipient who receives a loan repayment award and continues to satisfy employment criteria shall continue to receive an award for the four-year limit regardless of whether the employing school system retains its acute shortage designation or the employing school is removed from the failing school list. If a recipient leaves an acute shortage system or a failing school, and accepts employment in a school system or school that does not hold an acute shortage system or failing school designation, the recipient shall no longer qualify to receive supplemental funds.

(j) Beginning after the 2021 spring semester, an individual issued an Alabama bachelor's level professional educator certificate in math, science, or computer science upon completion of an alternative certification program pursuant to the Code of Alabama, Section 16-23-3, may be eligible for the program if he or she satisfies all employment and teaching load requirements outlined above. The individual may only be reimbursed for tuition and mandatory instructional fees for not more than 12 semester credit hours of the college courses required for earning an alternative certificate in order to obtain a professional educator certificate in math, science, or computer science. The individual shall provide the Alabama State Department of Education and the commission with documentation concerning the cost incurred for the course work. These funds are considered income by the Internal Revenue Service, and recipients shall be made aware of that fact.

(2) Supplemental Program: In order to receive an additional supplement pursuant to this act, in addition to all of the criteria listed above, a recipient shall also teach math or science, or computer science or any combination of the three, in a public school system within the state with an acute teacher shortage in math or science or computer science or any combination of the three, for which the teacher is properly certified as identified by the Commission in consultation with the Alabama State Department of Education or in a school which has been identified as a failing school, or any other term adopted to identify an underperforming school, by the Alabama State Board of Education or the Legislature. The supplement is an additional two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per year, or one thousand two hundred fifty dollars ($1,250) per semester worked, for a maximum of four consecutive years for math and science teachers. Computer Science teachers will not be eligible to receive the acute shortage area supplement, until such time as the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and the Alabama State Department of Education concur that there is sufficient need or resources, or both, available to allow its inclusion.

(a) Public school systems and schools with acute shortages in math or science or both will be identified by the Commission in consultation with the Alabama State Department of Education.

(b) The Commission will approve the public school systems and schools in which teachers will be eligible for the supplement.

(c) The list of eligible public school systems and schools will be published on the Commission's website.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 300-4-12-.11

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVI, Issue No. 12, September 28, 2018, eff. 11/3/2018.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVIII, Issue No. 03, December 31, 2019, eff. 2/14/2020.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIX, Issue No. 12, September 30, 2021, eff. 11/14/2021.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 12, September 30, 2022, eff. 11/14/2022.

Authors: Tim Vick, Artcola Pettway

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, Alabama Act 2022-396.