39.399 Teacher loan program.
(1g) In this section:
(a) “Rural county" means a county that satisfies all of the following:
1. The county does not include any urbanized area.
2. Less than 25 percent of persons residing in the county are employed in another county that includes an urbanized area.
3. Less than 25 percent of persons employed in the county reside in another county that includes an urbanized area.
(b) “Urbanized area" has the meaning given in 23 USC 134 (b) (7).
(1m) The board shall establish a teacher loan program for students who meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Are residents of this state enrolled at least half-time as sophomores, juniors, or seniors in an institution of higher education, as defined in 20 USC 1001 (a) and (b), located in this state.
(b) Are enrolled in programs of study leading to a teacher's license in a discipline identified as a teacher shortage area for this state by the federal department of education.
(c) Have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale or the equivalent.
(2) A student eligible for a loan under sub. (1m) may be awarded loans of up to $10,000 annually for not more than 3 years, with a maximum of $30,000 in loans to a student under this section.
(3)
(a) Loans under sub. (1m) shall be made from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (ct). Except as provided in par. (b), loans under sub. (1m) shall be repaid at an annual interest rate of 5 percent.
(b) The board shall forgive 25 percent of the loan and 25 percent of the interest on the loan for each school year the recipient satisfies all of the following:
1. The recipient is employed, as a full-time teacher in a high-demand area related to the recipient's discipline under sub. (1m) (b), by a public or private elementary or secondary school in the city of Milwaukee or in a school district in a rural county.
2. The recipient receives a rating of proficient or distinguished on the educator effectiveness system or the equivalent in a school that does not use the educator effectiveness system.
(4) The board shall deposit in the general fund as general purpose revenue-earned all repayments of loans made under sub. (1m) and the interest on the loans.
History: 2015 a. 55, 359.