The purpose of the rule amendment is to clarify teaching certification eligibility. Sections regarding program advertisement are added to align this rule with the Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program and clarification of eligible ...

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
6A-20.013: Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness Program
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule amendment is to clarify teaching certification eligibility. Sections regarding program advertisement are added to align this rule with the Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program and clarification of eligible educational loans is added. The effect reflects current statute and administrative processes.
SUMMARY: Clarification is made for teaching certification eligibility and eligible educational loans. Sections regarding program advertisement are added to align this rule with the Critical Teacher Shortage Tuition Reimbursement Program.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), 1009.59(4) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1009.59 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: August 19, 2008, 8:30 a.m.
PLACE: 400 South Monroe Street, Room LL03, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida 32399
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Theresa Antworth, Director, State Scholarship and Grant Programs, Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance, 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 70, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759, [phone]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6A-20.013 Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

(1) Eligibility criteria for initial awards. To receive aid, an initial applicant shall meet the provisions of Section 1009.59, Florida Statutes, and shall:

(a) Have, as a minimum in the first year of application, a valid temporary Florida Educator’s Certificate or license which indicates certification or licensure with an issue date prior to the beginning of the school year. The Department of Education may accept a certificate issue date during the first year of teaching providing it validates the first academic year of employment in the critical teacher shortage subject area in which the teacher is employed for the academic year for which funds are requested;

(b) Have taught a full school year, as defined in Section 1003.02(1)(g), Florida Statutes, in a Florida publicly-funded school or developmental research school, in a designated critical teacher shortage subject area. If an otherwise eligible applicant completes eligible teaching service for at least ninety (90) days during a school year and does not complete one (1) full year of teaching service, the Department may provide up to one-half of a full award;

(c) Not owe a repayment of a state or federal student grant or scholarship unless satisfactory arrangements have been made;

(d) Not be in default on a National Defense Loan, Perkins National Direct Loan, Guaranteed Student Loan, Federally Insured Student Loan, Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students, Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students, or any state loan program, unless satisfactory arrangements to repay the loan have been made;

(e) Not have received a Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship, Critical Teacher Shortage Scholarship Loan, “Chappie” James Most Promising Teacher Scholarship Loan, Masters’ Fellowship Loan Program for Teachers, or Critical Teacher Shortage Forgivable Loan under the Florida Teacher Scholarship and Forgivable Loan Program; and

(f) Submit by July 15:

1. After the end of the academic year in which the applicant taught for the first time as a full-time certified teacher in a critical teacher shortage subject area for at least ninety (90) days, Form FFAA-2, Florida Financial Aid Application for Teacher Program, as incorporated by reference in Rule 6A-20.012, F.A.C.

2. An academic transcript from each postsecondary educational institution which the applicant attended in order to complete an education program,

3. Form CEMP-1, Employment Certification, as incorporated by reference in Rule 6A-20.012, F.A.C., and

4. Form CLON-1, Loan Certification, which is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule to become effective with the effective date of this rule October 2002. A copy of Form FFAA-2, Form CEMP-1, and Form CLON-1 may be obtained by contacting the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(2) Eligibility criteria for renewal awards. Eligibility for renewal shall be evaluated at the end of the renewal year of teaching. As a condition for renewal, a teacher shall meet the provisions of Section 1009.59, Florida Statutes, and shall:

(a) Have, each academic year, a valid Florida Educator’s Certificate or license which indicates certification or licensure in the subject area for which an initial award was made or in a current critical teacher shortage subject area for the academic year for which funds are being requested;

(b) Have taught a full school year in a Florida publicly-funded school, or developmental research school, in the subject area for which the original loan repayment was made or in a current critical teacher shortage area in which the applicant is certified. If an otherwise eligible renewal applicant completes eligible teaching service for at least ninety (90) days and does not complete a full year of teaching service, the Department may provide up to one-half of a full award;

(c) Not owe a repayment of a grant received under the Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, or any state grant or scholarship program;

(d) Not be in default on a National Defense Loan, Perkins National Direct Loan, Guaranteed Student Loan, Federally Insured Student Loan, Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students, Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students, or any state loan program, unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made;

(e) Not have received a Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship, Critical Teacher Shortage Scholarship Loan, “Chappie” James Most Promising Teacher Scholarship Loan, Masters’ Fellowship Loan Program for Teachers, or Critical Teacher Shortage Forgivable Loan under the Florida Teacher Scholarship and Forgivable Loan Program; and

(f) Submit by July 15 of each academic year, Form CEMP-1, Employment Certification.

(3) The Department shall distribute to Florida publicly funded school district superintendents applications and a description of the program and application process utilizing the State Student Financial Aid Database.

(4) Publicly funded schools shall be responsible for providing teachers with information regarding the Tuition Reimbursement Program and the necessary forms.

(5)(3) Amount of award. The annual amount of student loan repayment shall be a maximum of twenty five hundred (2,500) dollars for undergraduate loans and a maximum of five thousand (5,000) dollars for graduate loans for up to a combined total of five thousand (5,000) dollars annually. The amount of the award is based on the principal balance outstanding on the applicant’s loan as of the June 30 prior to the beginning date of teaching as a certified teacher in a critical teacher shortage subject area.

(6)(4) Maximum terms of eligibility. A teacher shall be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness for either a maximum of four (4) academic years or a total repayment of ten thousand (10,000) dollars, whichever comes first.

(7)(5) Award procedures. The Department shall determine eligibility and make awards. Awards may be prorated if funds are not available to make full awards. Renewal applicants will be given priority upon timely receipt of all required forms and documentation. The Department shall notify applicants of their award eligibility.

(8)(6) Payment of awards. The Department shall provide for the delivery of funds to teachers by issuing warrants made payable to the teachers and the lending institutions for all loans held by lending institutions. The Department will forward the warrants to the teachers for submission to the lending institutions; however, a teacher who submits documentation from all lenders that all principal balances which were due as of the June 30 prior to the beginning date of teaching, or additional educational loans accrued prior to the beginning date of teaching, pursuant to subparagraph (1)(f)1. of this rule, have been paid by the teacher may have the warrant made payable directly to the teacher. If the loan was a National Direct Student Loan, National Defense Loan, or Perkins Loan, each lending institution must also indicate that the repayment was not a result of teaching service cancellation.

Specific Authority 1001.02(1), 1009.59(4) FS. Law Implemented 1009.59 FS. History–New 5-24-84, Formerly 6A-7.162, 6A-7.0162, Amended 12-25-86, 3-22-89, 5-16-90, 2-15-95, 10-15-02,_________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Theresa Antworth, Director, State Scholarship and Grant Programs, Office of Student Financial Assistance
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Linda Champion, Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Operations
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: June 26, 2008
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: July 3, 2008