Bill Summaries: S684 (2021)

Tracking:
  • Summary date: Apr 8 2021 - View summary

    Amends the term STEM from the definitions under GS 116-209.60, which defines terms for use in Part 3 of Article 23 of GS Chapter 116, which governs the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program (Program). No longer limits the Program to providing loans to individuals interested in preparing to teach in the state's public schools in STEM or special education licensure areas, instead opening it more broadly to those preparing to teach in the state's public schools. Makes changes throughout the Part by removing references to "STEM" and "special education." Requires specified amounts be transferred from the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program Trust Fund to the UNC System Office instead of General Administration. Amends the selection criteria to give priority to students who have demonstrated commitment towards achieving licensure by completing associate degree programs with a concentration in teacher education. Extends the deadline on the report on forgivable loans awarded from the Trust Fund, placement and repayment rates, mentoring and coaching support, and selected school outcomes, from January 1, 2019, to January 1, 2022.  Amends the conditions under which a loan is to be forgiven, to now provide for forgiveness if within 10 years of graduation from a program leading to teacher licensure, the recipient serves as a teacher for every year the teacher was awarded the forgivable loan in any combination of: (1) one year at an NC public school if (a) the school is identified as low-performing when the teacher accepts employment or, if the teacher changes employment during this period, at another school identified as low-performing; (b) the recipient received an associate degree from a community college that is in partnership with a participating institution of higher education and serves at a public school located in the administrative area of the community college in which the recipient received the associate degree; or (c) the school is located in a development tier one area at the time the teacher accepts the employment or (2) two years at an NC public school if none of the provisions in (1) apply.

    Effective July 1, 2021, and applies to the award of forgivable loans to a new cohort beginning with the 2022-23 academic year.