53B-10-101 - Terrel H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans program -- Eligible students -- Cancellation of incentive loans -- Repayment by recipient who fails to meet requirements -- Duration of incentive l
53B-10-101. Terrel H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans program -- Eligible students-- Cancellation of incentive loans -- Repayment by recipient who fails to meet requirements-- Duration of incentive loans.
(1) (a) A Terrel H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans program is established to recruit andtrain superior candidates for teaching in Utah's public school system as a component of theteacher quality continuum referred to in Subsections 53A-1a-104(7) and 53A-6-102(2)(a).
(b) Under the program, the incentive loans may be used in any of Utah's state-operatedinstitutions of higher education or at a private institution of higher education in Utah that offers astate-approved teacher education program.
(2) (a) The State Board of Regents shall award the incentive loans to college studentswho have been admitted to, or have made application to and are prepared to enter into, a programpreparing students for licensure and who declare an intent to complete the prescribed course ofinstruction and to teach in this state in accordance with the priorities described under Subsection(5)(c).
(b) The incentive loan may be canceled at any time by the institution of attendance if:
(i) the student fails to make reasonable progress towards completion of licensingrequirements; or
(ii) it appears to be a reasonable certainty that the student does not intend to teach inUtah.
(c) The State Board of Regents may grant leaves of absence to incentive loan holders.
(3) The State Board of Regents may require an incentive loan recipient who fails tocomplete the requirements for licensing without good cause to repay all tuition and fees providedby the loan, together with appropriate interest.
(4) (a) The State Board of Regents may require an incentive loan recipient who does notwork in the state's public school system or a private school within the state within two years aftergraduation to repay all tuition and fees provided by the loan, together with appropriate interest,unless waived for good cause.
(b) (i) A recipient who does not teach for a term equal to the number of years of theincentive loan within a reasonable period of time after graduation shall repay a graduated portionof the tuition and fees based upon the uncompleted term.
(ii) One year of teaching is credit for one year's tuition and fees.
(c) All repayments made under this Subsection (4) are for use in the Terrel H. BellTeaching Incentive Loans program.
(5) (a) Each incentive loan is valid for up to four years of full-time equivalentenrollment, or until requirements for licensing or advanced licensing have been met, whichever isless.
(b) (i) Incentive loans apply to both tuition and fees in amounts and are subject toconditions approved by the State Board of Regents, based upon criteria developed to insure thatall recipients of the loans will pursue an education career within the state.
(ii) An incentive loan for tuition and fees at a private institution may not exceed theaverage scholarship amounts granted for tuition and fees at public institutions of higher educationwithin the state.
(c) Incentive loans shall be awarded in accordance with prioritized critical areas of needfor teaching expertise within the state, as determined by the State Board of Education's criticalityindex and school district priorities based upon data provided by the school district, and may
include preparing persons as:
(i) a special education teacher;
(ii) a speech or language pathologist; or
(iii) another licensed professional providing services in the public schools to pupils withdisabilities.
Amended by Chapter 88, 2006 General Session