§ 116-209.35. Teacher Assistant Scholarship Fund.
§ 116‑209.35. TeacherAssistant Scholarship Fund.
(a) There isestablished the Teacher Assistant Scholarship Fund. The purpose of the Fund isto provide scholarships to teacher assistants who are pursuing college degreesto become teachers. The State Education Assistance Authority shall administerthe Fund.
(b) Criteria forawarding the scholarships shall be developed by the Board of Governors of TheUniversity of North Carolina in consultation with the State Board of Educationand the State Board of Community Colleges and shall include all of thefollowing:
(1) An applicant shallbe employed full time as a teacher assistant in North Carolina.
(2) An applicant shallbe enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education in North Carolinapursuing teacher licensure.
(3) An applicant shallbe a resident of North Carolina. For purposes of this section, residency shallbe determined by the same standard as residency for tuition purposes pursuantto G.S. 116‑143.1.
(4) Any additionalcriteria that the Board of Governors considers necessary to administer the Fundeffectively, including all of the following:
a. Consideration of theappropriate numbers of minority applicants and applicants from diversesocioeconomic backgrounds to receive scholarships pursuant to this section.
b. Consideration of theacademic qualifications of the individuals applying to receive funds.
c. Consideration of thecommitment an individual applying to receive funds demonstrates to theprofession of teaching.
(c) The scholarshipsshall be available for part‑time or full‑time course work throughall off‑campus or distance education teacher education programs.
(d) The Board ofGovernors of The University of North Carolina, the State Board of Education,and the State Board of Community Colleges shall: (i) prepare a clear writtenexplanation of the Teacher Assistant Scholarship Fund and the informationregarding the availability and criteria for awarding the scholarships, and (ii)shall provide that information to the appropriate counselors in each localschool system and shall charge those counselors to inform teacher assistantsabout the scholarships and to encourage teacher assistants to apply for thescholarships.
(e) The Board ofGovernors of The University of North Carolina shall adopt rules to implementthis section.
(f) The Board ofGovernors of The University of North Carolina shall report to the JointLegislative Education Oversight Committee by December 1 each year regarding theFund and scholarships awarded from the Fund. (2001‑424, s. 31.5(a); 2006‑95, s. 2.3;2007‑457, s. 1.)