Bill Text: MS HB1062 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Graduate degree teacher incentive loans; establish for teachers agreeing to teach in public schools or IHLs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [HB1062 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-HB1062-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Representative Evans (91st)
House Bill 1062
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 37-143-12, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE GRADUATE DEGREE TEACHER EDUCATION INCENTIVE LOANS TO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS AGREEING TO TEACH IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; TO AUTHORIZE STIPENDS FOR THOSE STUDENTS IN GRADUATE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONVERSION OF THOSE LOANS INTO INTEREST-FREE SCHOLARSHIPS BY PERFORMING THAT TEACHING SERVICE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 37-143-12, Mississippi Code of 1972:
37-143-12. There is created a program for graduate study in teacher education under which a scholarship may be awarded to a graduate degree student who: (a) has been employed as a licensed teacher in a public school district in Mississippi for not less than three (3) school years or as a university instructor in a state institution of higher learning in Mississippi for not less than three (3) academic years; (b) is approved by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning; and (c) contracts with the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, obligating himself or herself to pursue to completion the course of study agreed upon, and immediately following the completion of that work, to spend a period of time equal to the period of study provided under the scholarship in teaching in any public school district or state institution of higher learning in Mississippi, as approved by the board of trustees. That period of service, after completion of study under a scholarship, may not be less than one (1) year.
A student awarded a scholarship under this section also may be allocated a loan not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per month for each month of full-time study in a graduate teacher education program. The repayment of the principal and interest of the loans may be deferred during attendance as a full-time student in an approved program for graduate study in an accredited school of teacher education. For any student who receives this loan, the student's contract with the board of trustees shall obligate the student, immediately following completion of the course of study, to repay the loan by teaching for not less than two (2) years at any public school district or state institution of higher learning in Mississippi, as approved by the board of trustees. The teaching service shall convert the loan to an interest-free scholarship, and discharge the same, on the basis of two (2) years of service for one-year's loan amount, or the appropriate proportion of the total outstanding balance of principal and interest, all as established by rule and regulation of the board of trustees. Any student who fails to complete all of the teaching service obligation shall be liable to the board of trustees for the remaining balance of the principal and interest that remains undischarged.
The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall establish any rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
