BILL REQ. #:  H-0376.2 

Read first time 02/07/2003.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to conditional scholarships for prospective teachers; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.80 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The higher education coordinating board shall offer conditional scholarships for full or part-time studies that may be forgiven in exchange for teaching service in Washington's public K-12 schools.
     (2) Applicants must have a declared intention to complete an approved preparation program leading to teacher certification with an endorsement in math, science, technology, special education, or bilingual education or be a teacher who is seeking an additional endorsement in math, science, technology, special education, or bilingual education. Applicants must also be resident students as defined by RCW 28B.15.012 and 28B.15.013, except that resident students defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2)(f) are not eligible for scholarships under this section.
     (3) Students are eligible to receive a conditional scholarship not to exceed the amount of tuition and fees at the institution of higher education attended by the student or resident undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of Washington, whichever is lower. Students are eligible to receive conditional scholarships for a maximum of five years.
     (4) When selecting scholarship recipients, the higher education coordinating board shall give consideration to students who are bilingual and who are able to demonstrate their dual language proficiency by meeting a standard established by the board. The board shall establish the standard in consultation with the office of the superintendent of public instruction's bilingual education advisory committee. The board may also consider the applicant's demonstrated academic ability and commitment to serve as a teacher within the state of Washington.
     (5) Loans shall be forgiven at the rate of one year of loan for two years of teaching service. Recipients who teach in geographic or subject-matter shortage areas, as specified by the office of the superintendent of public instruction, may have their loans forgiven at the rate of one year of loan for one year of teaching service.
     (6) Recipients who fail to fulfill the required teaching service shall be required to repay the conditional loan with interest. The higher education coordinating board shall define the terms for repayment, including applicable interest rates, fees, and deferments, and may adopt other rules as necessary to implement this program.
     (7) Appropriations, private donations, or any other funds given to the higher education coordinating board for this program, and all collections shall be deposited into the student loan account authorized in RCW 28B.102.060.