HCS/HB 26 - The act creates the Missouri Essential Needs School Districts Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist eligible teachers in the repayment of undergraduate and graduate loans.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE:

1) Must be a full-time teacher in an "essential needs school district" which is either an unaccredited or provisionally accredited school district; 2) Declared an intent to teach for at least the number of years for which any assistance is received; 3) Received and maintained certification for any year assistance is received; 4) Graduated with at least a 2.8 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale from a nationally accredited teacher education program; 5) Must not be participating in any other loan repayment assistance program; and; 6) Must be within the first five years after the initial repayment period for either the undergraduate or graduate loan.

Any teacher that loses certification, is terminated or quits a teaching position will immediately lose loan repayment assistance. Except a person who has certification reinstated may also have the loan repayment assistance reinstated.

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education will work with local school districts to develop rules to implement this program.

The loan repayment assistance program will begin after any fiscal year in which the Critical Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program receives one million dollars in appropriations.
JULIA SOMMER GRUS