611.43—What are the consequences of a scholarship recipient's failure to meet the service obligation?
(a) Obligation to repay: General.
(1)
A scholarship recipient who does not fulfill his or her service obligation must—
(i)
Repay the Department the full amount of the scholarship, including the principal balance, accrued interest, and any collection costs charged under paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section; or
(2)
Unless the service obligation is deferred as provided in § 611.44 or the repayment requirement is discharged, the obligation to repay the amount provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this section begins six months after the date the recipient—
(i)
Completes the teacher training program without beginning to teach in a high-need school of a high-need LEA; or
(3)
The Secretary determines whether a scholarship recipient has fulfilled the service obligation on the basis of information that the Department receives as provided in §§ 611.46 and 611.47.
(b) Obligation to Repay: Partial performance of the service obligation.
(1)
A scholarship recipient who teaches in a high-need school of a high-need school district for less than the period of his or her service obligation must repay—
(i)
The amount of the scholarship that is proportional to the unmet portion of the service obligation;
(ii)
Interest that accrues on this portion of the scholarship beginning six months after the recipient's graduation from the teacher preparation program; and
(2)
Unless the service obligation is deferred or the repayment requirement is discharged, the obligation to repay the amount provided in paragraph (b)(1) of this section begins six months after the date the recipient is no longer employed as a teacher in a high-need school of a high-need LEA.
(c) Availability of payment schedule.
(1)
Upon request to the Secretary, the scholarship recipient may repay the scholarship and accrued interest according to a payment schedule that the Secretary establishes.
(2)
A payment schedule must permit the full amount of the scholarship and accrued interest to be repaid within ten years. The minimum monthly payment is $50 unless a larger monthly payment is needed to enable the full amount that is due to be paid within this timeframe.
(d) Interest.
In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3717 and 34 CFR part 30, the Secretary charges interest on the unpaid balance that the scholarship recipient owes. However, except as provided in § 611.44(d), the Secretary does not charge interest for the period of time that precedes the date on which the scholarship recipient is required to begin repayment.
(e) Failure to meet requirements.
A scholarship recipient's failure to satisfy the requirements of §§ 611.42-611.48 in a timely manner results in the recipient being—
(f) Action by reason of default.
The Secretary may take any action authorized by law to collect the amount of scholarship, accrued interest and collection costs, if any, on which a scholarship recipient obligated to repay under this section has defaulted. This action includes, but is not limited to, filing a lawsuit against the recipient, reporting the default to national credit bureaus, and requesting the Internal Revenue Service to offset the recipient's Federal income tax refund.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1840-0753)