HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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(I) REMAINS A FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE IN AN
AREA OF CRITICAL SHORTAGE; AND

(II) MAINTAINS A GRADE-POINT AVERAGE OF AT
LEAST 3.0 ON A 4.0 SCALE AND ADVANCES IN ACADEMIC STANDING AT
LEAST 1 YEAR IN EACH YEAR FOR WHICH AN AWARD IS RENEWED.

(2) A DEGREED RECIPIENT MAY RENEW AN AWARD FOR 1 YEAR
IF THAT RECIPIENT:

(I) REMAINS ENROLLED IN AT LEAST 9 CREDITS PER
SEMESTER IN COURSES REQUIRED TO SECURE TEACHER CERTIFICATION IN
AN AREA OF CRITICAL SHORTAGE; AND

(II) MAINTAINS A GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF AT
LEAST 3.0 ON A 4.0 SCALE.

(C) A RECIPIENT OF AN AWARD UNDER THIS SUBTITLE SHALL TEACH
IN A PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL IN AN AREA OF CRITICAL SHORTAGE
FOR 2 1.5 YEARS FOR EACH YEAR THAT THE SCHOLARSHIP WAS AWARDED.
A RECIPIENT SHALL COMMENCE EMPLOYMENT AS A TEACHER IN A PUBLIC
SCHOOL WITHIN 9 MONTHS OF THE COMPLETION OF THE TEACHER EDUCATION
PROGRAM THAT WOULD QUALIFY THE RECIPIENT TO TEACH.

(A) THE STATE SCHOLARSHIP BOARD ANNUALLY SHALL AWARD TO
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR THE EDUCATION OF
PERSONS TO TEACH IN AREAS OF CRITICAL SHORTAGE.

(B) A RECIPIENT OF A TUITION ASSISTANCE AWARD SHALL:

(1) BE A RESIDENT OF THIS STATE;

(2) QUALIFY AS FOLLOWS:

(I) HAVE EARNED 60 CREDITS OF UNDERGRADUATE
COLLEGIATE EDUCATION AND BE ENROLLED IN OR SIGN A LETTER OF
INTENT TO ENROLL IN A PROGRAM LEADING TO CERTIFICATION TO TEACH
IN AN AREA OF CRITICAL SHORTAGE AND BE SELECTED BY THE STATE
SCHOLARSHIP BOARD ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS AMONG QUALIFIED
APPLICANTS BASED ON ACADEMIC CRITERIA, NOT LIMITED TO
STANDARDIZED TESTS, ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION;
OR

(II) HAVE AN UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE DEGREE
IN AN AREA OF CRITICAL SHORTAGE AND BE ENROLLED IN OR SIGN A
LETTER OF INTENT TO ENROLL IN COURSES LEADING TO CERTIFICATION TO
TEACH IN AN AREA OF CRITICAL SHORTAGE AND BE SELECTED AMONG
QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS BASED ON ACADEMIC
CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION; OR

(III) PERSONS WHO ARE ALREADY TEACHERS SHALL:

1. HAVE A NOMINATION FROM THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OF THE SYSTEM IN WHICH THE PERSON
TEACHES OR INTENDS TO TEACH; AND