HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2305

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

2.  Enroll as a full-time student in
courses required for teacher certification in an academic area in
which there is a critical shortage of teachers; and

3.  Be selected by the State Scholarship
Board on a competitive basis among qualified applicants based on
criteria established by the State Board of Education;

(3)  Sign a letter of intent as follows:

(i) A nondegreed recipient who is not already a
teacher shall be enrolled in or sign a letter of intent to enroll
at an eligible institution as a full-time student in an
undergraduate program necessary for teacher education; or

(ii) A degreed recipient shall enroll in or
sign a letter of intent to enroll in courses leading to
certification to teach in a field of critical shortage; or

(iii) A recipient who is already a teacher
shall sign a letter of intent to enroll at an eligible
institution as a full-time student in a teacher certification
program in an area in which there is a critical shortage of
teachers;

(4)  Furnish a surety bond to this State with security
satisfactory to the State Scholarship Board, that upon completion
of undergraduate studies if not a teacher, or completion of
certification studies if already a teacher, the recipient shall
teach in this State for 1 1/2 years for each year that the
recipient has a tuition assistance award;

(5)  Maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 on
a 4.0 scale and advance in academic standing at least 1 year in
each year in which an award is renewed; and

(6)  Satisfy whatever other criteria the State
Scholarship Board and the State Board of Education establish.