(a) Purpose. — It is the intent and purpose of this program to encourage individuals to pursue careers in speech language pathology in Delaware public schools and in the Part C, Birth to Three Early Intervention System programs.
(b) Eligibility. — Awards shall be provided for graduate education in a Delaware school that is accredited, or is a candidate for accreditation, by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, that will satisfy the educational requirements for Delaware state licensure as a speech/language pathologist.
(c) Repayment and forgiveness. — (1) For purposes of this program, qualifying employment shall be employment as a licensed speech pathologist either in a Delaware public school or by a provider for programs serving infants and toddlers under Part C, Birth to Three Early Intervention System and their contractors.
(2) Loans will be forgiven at the rate of 1 year of employment for 1 year of loan.
(d) Exceptions. — Additional scholarship awards may be provided to the first graduates of the University of Delaware's speech/language pathology program who graduated in 2018 and are currently teaching in Delaware schools.