HB272INTRODUCED
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HB272
V8QTPLV-1
By Representative Collins
RFD: Ways and Means Education
First Read: 13-Feb-25
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5 V8QTPLV-1 02/07/2025 KMS (L) 2025-395
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First Read: 13-Feb-25
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, the Alabama Commission on
Higher Education administers the Alabama Math and
Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP), which
provides a loan repayment award to eligible public K-12
math, science, and computer science teachers and an
additional loan repayment award to the eligible
applicants who are employed in underserved locations in
the state.
This bill would change the name of the program
to the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in
Alabama (LASEA) Program and would expand program
eligibility to address additional educator shortages by
extending eligibility for loan assistance to educators
with certification in acute educator shortage programs
and providing additional loan assistance if those
educators are employed by public K-12 schools or school
systems recognized as acute educator shortage
locations.
This bill would specify that the Alabama
Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with
the State Department of Education, would determine
which programs, schools, and school systems have acute
educator shortages.
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A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Alabama Math and Science Teacher
Education Program (AMSTEP); to change the name of the program
to the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama
(LASEA) Program; to amend Sections 16-5-50, 16-5-51, 16-5-52,
16-5-53, 16-5-54, 16-5-54.1, 16-5-55, and 16-5-56, Code of
Alabama 1975; to allow educators who complete a program
identified as having a shortage of certified educators and who
obtain certification in those identified programs to qualify
for the loan assistance program; to offer a supplemental
payment from the loan assistance program to eligible
applicants who are also employed in public K-12 schools or
school systems with a shortage of certified educators as
determined by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in
consultation with the State Department of Education; and to
repeal Section 16-5-54.2, Code of Alabama 1975, which provides
providing for the reimbursement of individuals who have
completed certain alternative certification programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Sections 16-5-50, 16-5-51, 16-5-52, 16-5-53,
16-5-54, 16-5-54.1, 16-5-55, and 16-5-56 of the Code of
Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
"§16-5-50
The Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program
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The Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program
is created pursuant to this article is renamed the Loan
Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA)
Program."
"§16-5-51
The purpose of the Alabama Math and Science Teacher
Education Program Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in
Alabama Program is twofold as follows:
(1) To encourage individuals to enroll in and complete
educator programs leading to identified as having acute
educator shortages and obtain Alabama certification in
mathematics, science, or computer science those programs.
(2) To improve the educational system in Alabama by
encouraging those who complete the program and obtain
certification in acute educator shortage programs to accept
math, science, or computer science teaching educator positions
in Alabama public K-12 schools, preferably in public or school
systems, including charter schools , where the shortage of
math, science, or computer science teachers, or any
combination of the three, is most acute, or in a school that
has been designated as a failing school, or any other term
adopted to identify an underperforming school, by the State
Board of Education or the Legislature that have been
identified as acute educator shortage locations . "
"§16-5-52
For the purposes of this article, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:
(1) ACUTE EDUCATOR SHORTAGE. A shortage of certified
educators in identified educator programs as determined by the
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educators in identified educator programs as determined by the
Alabama Commission on Higher Education in consultation with
the State Department of Education.
(2) ACUTE EDUCATOR SHORTAGE LOCATION. A public K-12
school or school system that has been identified as having an
acute educator shortage.
(1)(3) APPROVED INSTITUTION. A state-supported
institution of higher education or a private nonprofit
institution of higher education that satisfies all of the
following:
a. Is accredited by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
b. Is approved by the State Board of Education to
prepare teachers of middle level or secondary math, science,
or computer science educators in programs identified as having
an acute educator shortage .
c. Is eligible to receive Title IV federal student aid
program funds.
d. Maintains its primary headquarters in Alabama.
(4) BASE SUPPORT. Loan assistance in support of
educators who are certified in a program identified as having
an acute educator shortage pursuant to Section 16-5-54.
(2)(5) CHARTER SCHOOL. A form of public K-12 school. A
teacher established pursuant to Chapter 6F. An educator
employed by a charter school accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is
eligible to participate in the program. A teacher for the base
support provided in this article. An educator employed by a
charter school is not eligible for the acute shortage area
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charter school is not eligible for the acute shortage area
supplement supplemental support provided in this article.
(3)(6) COMMISSION. The Alabama Commission on Higher
Education.
(7) EDUCATOR. A full-time employee of a public K-12
school or school system whose function is to work with
students in support of their efforts to learn and obtain an
education.
(4)(8) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT. A person An individual who
satisfies the criteria set out in this article and is eligible
under rules adopted by the commission.
(5)(9) PROGRAM. The Alabama Math and Science Teacher
Education Program Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in
Alabama Program created by this article and administered by
the commission that provides loan repayments assistance to a
teacher an educator with a valid Alabama professional educator
certificate who is endorsed in math, science, or computer
science who teaches math, science, or computer science courses
for which the teacher is properly certified for three-fourths
of the full-time teaching load in the Alabama public school
system a program identified as having an acute educator
shortage.
(6) SCIENCE. Biology, chemistry, physics, and general
science.
(10) SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT. Loan assistance in support
of educators who qualify for base support pursuant to Section
16-5-54 and are employed in an acute educator shortage
location.
(7)(11) YEAR. A school year that shall be divided into
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(7)(11) YEAR. A school year that shall be divided into
The fall and spring semesters . The term does not mean
calendar, fiscal, or scholastic year of an academic year of a
public K-12 school or school system ."
"§16-5-53
(a) The Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education
Program program shall be administered by the commission, which
may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of the
program.
(b) A percentage of any appropriations received by the
program may be expended for its operation and maintenance. Any
funds appropriated to the program shall be non-reverting at
the end of each fiscal year. "
"§16-5-54
(a) The program shall provide two levels of payment for
loan assistance: base support and supplemental support.
Depending on eligibility, an eligible applicant may receive
the base support or both the base support and supplemental
support.
(b) To be eligible for the base program of three
thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($3,750) per semester for
math and science teachers and one thousand five hundred
dollars ($1,500) per semester for computer science teachers,
an support of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per
year worked or three thousand seven hundred fifty dollars
($3,750) per semester, for a maximum of four consecutive
years, an eligible applicant shall satisfy all of the
following:
(1) Is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the
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(1) Is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the
United States.
(2) Is a resident of Alabama. The commission shall
accept any one of the following as proof of residency:
a. A current valid Alabama driver license.
b. A current valid Alabama vehicle registration.
c. A current valid Alabama voter registration card.
(1) Be(3) Is a graduate of a State Board of Education
an approved program in math, science, or computer science, at
the baccalaureate or master's level after the 2018 spring
semester term from an approved Alabama institution and hold an
initial middle level or secondary professional educator
certificate endorsed in math, science, or computer science
that was has been issued an Alabama educator certificate based
upon completion of the approved program in math, science, or
computer science. A teacher identified as having an acute
educator shortage. An educator who only earns a passing score
on the Praxis test in math, science, or computer science to
add a certificate endorsement for math, science, or computer
science, an approved program and who has not completed an
entire the approved program , does not satisfy this
requirement.
(2) Holds a valid Alabama professional educator
certificate endorsed in middle level or secondary math,
science, or computer science, or any combination of the three.
(3) Teaches
(4) Is employed by a public K-12 school or school
system.
(5) Maintains a schedule in which at least
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(5) Maintains a schedule in which at least
three-fourths of the full-time teaching load is comprised of
math, science, or computer science in an Alabama public school
system workload addresses an acute educator shortage .
(4) Is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the
United States.
(5) Is a resident of Alabama and provides documentation
proving a permanent connection to the State of Alabama. The
commission shall accept any one of the following as proof of
residency:
a. A current valid Alabama driver license.
b. A current valid Alabama vehicle registration.
c. A current valid Alabama voter registration card.
(6) Has outstanding federal student loans, subsidized
or unsubsidized.
(7) Satisfies additional continuing eligibility
criteria established by the commission.
(b) In order to receive an additional supplement
pursuant to this article, in addition to the criteria listed
in subsection (a), a recipient shall also teach math, science,
or computer science, or any combination of the three, in a
public school system within the state with an acute teacher
shortage in math, science, or computer science, or any
combination of the three, for which the teacher is properly
certified, as identified by the commission in consultation
with the Alabama State Department of Education or in a school
that has been designated as a failing school, or any other
term adopted to identify an underperforming school, by the
Alabama State Board of Education or the Legislature. (c) To be
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Alabama State Board of Education or the Legislature. (c) To be
eligible for the supplemental support of three thousand
dollars ($3,000) per year worked or one thousand five hundred
dollars ($1,500) per semester worked, for a maximum of four
consecutive years, an eligible applicant must meet the
criteria listed in subsection (b) and also be employed in an
acute educator shortage location. "
"§16-5-54.1
(a) Beginning in the fall semester of 2021, the
benefits outlined in subsection (a) of Section 16-5-54 (a) and
the criteria outlined in Section 16-5-54(b) and (c) shall also
apply to the following eligible individuals , pending
authorization to teach who are authorized to be educators in
Alabama and subsequent employment are subsequently employed in
an Alabama public K-12 school: or school system, who graduated
from a regionally accredited college or university in another
state at the baccalaureate or master's level after the 2021
spring semester term, and who may or may not reside within
Alabama, exempting Section 16-5-54(b)(2)a. through c.
(1) An individual who graduated from a regionally
accredited college or university in Alabama or in another
state who is certified to teach math, science, or computer
science in another state, and who may or may not reside within
Alabama.
(2) An individual who resides in another state and is a
graduate of a State Board of Education approved program in
math, science, or computer science, at the baccalaureate or
master's level after the 2021 spring semester term from an
approved Alabama institution and who holds an initial
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approved Alabama institution and who holds an initial
middle-level or secondary professional educator certificate
endorsed in math, science, or computer science that was issued
based upon completion of the approved program in math,
science, or computer science. A teacher who only earns a
passing score on the Praxis test in math, science, or computer
science to add a certificate endorsement for math, science, or
computer science and who has not completed an entire approved
program, does not satisfy this requirement.
(b) The individuals listed in subsection (a) shall also
satisfy all of the following criteria:
(1) Hold a valid Alabama professional educator
certificate endorsed in middle-level or secondary math,
science, or computer science, or any combination of the three.
(2) Teach a schedule in which at least three-fourths of
the full-time teaching load is comprised of math, science, or
computer science courses for which the teacher is properly
certified in an Alabama public school system.
(3) Be citizens or lawful permanent residents of the
United States.
(4) Have outstanding federal student loans, subsidized
or unsubsidized.
(5) Satisfy additional continuing eligibility criteria
established by the commission.
(c) In order to receive an additional supplement
pursuant to this article, in addition to the criteria listed
in subsections (a) and (b), a recipient shall also teach math,
science, or computer science courses, or any combination of
the three, for which he or she is properly certified, in a
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the three, for which he or she is properly certified, in a
school system within the state with an acute teacher shortage
in math, science, or computer science, or any combination of
the three, as identified by the commission in consultation
with the State Department of Education or in a school that has
been designated as a failing school, or any other term
subsequently adopted to identify underperforming schools, by
the State Board of Education or the Legislature. "
"§16-5-55
(a) The program shall be used to provide a loan
repayment for federal student loans in the following amounts:
(1)a. Prior to the 2022 fall semester, five thousand
dollars ($5,000) per year, or two thousand five hundred
dollars ($2,500) per semester worked, for a maximum of four
consecutive years for a teacher with a valid Alabama
professional educator certificate endorsed in middle level or
secondary math or science who graduated from a teacher
education program at an approved institution after the 2018
spring semester term and is teaching in an Alabama public
school.
b. Three thousand dollars ($3,000) per year, or one
thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) per semester worked,
for a maximum of four consecutive years for a teacher with a
valid Alabama professional educator certificate endorsed in
computer science who graduated from a teacher education
program at an approved institution after the 2021 spring
semester term and is teaching in an Alabama public school.
c. Beginning after the 2022 spring semester, seven
thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per year, or three
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thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per year, or three
thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($3,750) per semester
worked, for a maximum of four consecutive years for a teacher
with a valid Alabama professional educator certificate
endorsed in middle level or secondary math or science who
graduated from a teacher education program at an approved
institution after the 2018 spring semester term and is
teaching in an Alabama public school. Payments made under this
paragraph may only be made to eligible teachers who fulfilled
the per semester requirements for the 2022 fall semester and
forward.
(2)a. An additional two thousand five hundred dollars
($2,500) per year, or one thousand two hundred fifty dollars
($1,250) per semester worked, for a maximum of four
consecutive years for a teacher who satisfies all criteria
listed in Sections 16-5-54, 16-5-54.1, and 16-5-54.2, and who
also is teaching math or science in a public school in a
school system within the state with an acute teacher shortage
in math or science, or both, as identified by the commission
in consultation with the Alabama State Department of Education
or in a school that has been designated as a failing school,
or any other term adopted to identify an underperforming
school by the Alabama State Board of Education or the
Legislature.
b. An additional one thousand dollars ($1,000) per
year, or five hundred dollars ($500) per semester worked, for
a maximum of four consecutive years for a teacher who
satisfies all criteria listed in Sections 16-5-54, 16-5-54.1,
and 16-5-54.2, and who also is teaching computer science in a
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and 16-5-54.2, and who also is teaching computer science in a
public school in a school system within the state with an
acute teacher shortage in computer science as identified by
the commission in consultation with the Alabama State
Department of Education or in a school that has been
designated as a failing school, or any other term adopted to
identify an underperforming school, by the Alabama State Board
of Education or the Legislature.
(b) Loan repayment award recipients shall reapply for
the program annually.
(a) Program funds shall be awarded and distributed by
the commission in the following manner:
(c) Loan repayment assistance awards shall be
distributed directly to the recipient teacher eligible
applicants in two disbursements during the applicable year:
One disbursement shall be made after January 1 and the second
disbursement shall be made after June 1. Each recipient
eligible applicant shall provide documentation from the
employing public K-12 school or school system as proof that he
or she has taught for a of employment for the requested
semester. If the award amount is larger than exceeds the
outstanding loan balance, the award amount shall be reduced to
the amount of match the loan balance.
(d)(b) The requirements of this article are contingent
upon available funding for the program.
(e)(c) The commission shall determine the necessary
procedures for awarding loan repayments assistance if the
number of total awards made to eligible applicants and
recipients exceeds available funding.
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recipients exceeds available funding.
(f)(d) The recipient eligible applicant shall notify
the commission in writing of any change in status within 30
days after the change. Failure to notify the commission of a
change in status shall affect future eligibility. All of the
following constitute a change in status:
(1) A change in name.
(2) A change in residence.
(3) A change in employment status.
(g)(e) To receive a loan repayment check assistance
pursuant to this article, a teacher an eligible applicant
shall register online with the state Comptroller.
(h)(f) A loan repayment check assistance award is
considered income by the Internal Revenue Service, and
recipients eligible applicants shall be made aware of that
fact.
(i) Any funds appropriated to the program shall be
nonreverting.
(j) Additional funds shall be made available to
teachers who also teach math, science, or computer science in
school systems of the state where the shortages of math,
science, or computer science teachers, or any combination of
the three, are most severe. The commission, in consultation
with the Alabama State Department of Education, shall
determine which school systems in the state have the greatest
shortage areas.
(k) A recipient who receives a loan repayment award and
continues to satisfy employment criteria shall continue to
receive an award for the four-year limit regardless of whether
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receive an award for the four-year limit regardless of whether
the employing school system retains its acute shortage
designation or the employing school is removed from the
failing school list. If a recipient leaves an acute shortage
system or a failing school and accepts employment in a school
system or school that does not hold an acute shortage system
or failing school designation, the recipient shall no longer
qualify to receive supplemental funds.
(g) An eligible applicant who receives the base support
and continues to satisfy employment criteria shall continue to
receive an award for the four-year limit.
(h) An eligible applicant who receives the supplemental
support and continues to satisfy employment criteria shall
continue to receive an award for the four-year limit. "
"§16-5-56
Any person individual or institution aggrieved by not
satisfied with the actions of the commission in its
administration of the program , by may submit a written
petition filed with to the commission within 30 days after
notice of the action complained of, may request a rehearing by
the commission. If not satisfied with the response of the
commission to the written petition, the individual or
institution may request a rehearing within 20 days after the
response of the commission is made . The commission shall
schedule the requested rehearing not less than 20, nor more
than 30, within 20 days after receipt of the petition
rehearing request . The aggrieved party individual or
institution may present written and oral evidence supporting
its the petition and may be represented by counsel. The
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its the petition and may be represented by counsel. The
decision of the commission following the rehearing shall be is
final."
Section 2. Section 16-5-54.2, Code of Alabama 1975,
relating to documentation required from educators who received
their certifications pursuant to an alternative certification
program to receive loan repayments under AMSTEP, is repealed.
Section 3. This act shall become effective on August 1,
2025.
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