15-1782
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15-1782. Mathematics, science, special education and elementary education teacher student loans; requirements; report (L10, Ch.257, sec. 1) A. The board may grant loans from the mathematics, science and special education teacher student loan fund established by section 15-1784 to defray in-state tuition, instructional materials and mandatory fees of the education of students who are pursuing a teaching degree at a university under the jurisdiction of the board and who are deemed qualified by the board to receive these loans. Loans shall be granted on such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the board and shall be distributed on a first come, first served basis. B. The board shall grant loans to qualified applicants who are classified as in-state students for tuition purposes pursuant to section 15-1802 and who agree to provide instruction in the area of mathematics, science or special education in a public school in this state or in elementary education in a public school that is located in a geographic area in this state that is experiencing a shortage of teachers, as determined by the state board of education. The board shall allocate no more than twenty-five per cent of the annual amount appropriated for loans to applicants who agree to provide instruction in elementary education. C. The loans granted by the board shall be sufficient to fully cover the costs of resident tuition and mandatory fees for each loan recipient and may also defray the cost of instructional materials. If an applicant qualifies for federal financial aid and receives federal grant aid, the loan amount shall be limited to the amount of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by the federal grant aid and may include a stipend for instructional materials. D. The board shall adopt policies for screening qualified applicants based on ability, character and financial need. E. The board shall grant loans on the terms and conditions the board imposes. The board shall establish procedures for the timely repayment of loans plus interest at a rate determined by the board. The board is responsible for the collection of loans that are in default. F. The board may delegate authority to administer the loans pursuant to this article to an institution under the jurisdiction of the board. If the board delegates authority, students pursuing a teaching degree at each institution under the jurisdiction of the board shall be equally eligible to participate. The board shall retain responsibility of making initial public notice of the availability of the loans and collect the application forms directly from each qualified applicant. The board shall forward the applications to the institution selected to administer the loans. G. On or before December 1 of each year, the Arizona board of regents shall submit an approved report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate and the joint legislative budget committee. The board shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state and the director of the Arizona state library, archives and public records. The report shall include the number of applicants, the number of loan recipients, the university each loan recipient attends, the name of the school at which each loan recipient is employed, the number of good cause repayment exceptions granted by the board, the reason for each good cause exception granted and teacher retention data. The board shall collect and maintain data on the retention of mathematics, science and special education teachers who received loans pursuant to this article. The board shall collect this data for at least five years after each loan recipient completes the recipient's service commitment. |