Bill > SB388

This bill establishes a teacher loan program to address Hawaii's teacher shortage by offering financial incentives for educators to work in hard-to-fill teaching positions across the state. The program will create a revolving fund to provide loans up to $5,000 to teachers who either relocate to Hawaii or move to a different complex area within the state to teach. Loan forgiveness is available for teachers who become licensed in Hawaii or commit to teaching full-time for seven years in specific categories, including special education, regular education shortage areas, Title 1 schools, elementary or secondary education, or schools in rural areas. Priority will be given to teachers who relocate to Hawaii or accept positions in different complex areas. If a teacher does not complete the seven-year teaching commitment, they must repay the loan under terms determined by the board, with specified interest rate and repayment limitations. The bill also allows the Department of Education to partner with a financial institution and potentially use collection agencies to manage loan repayments. The program aims to address Hawaii's persistent teacher recruitment and retention challenges by providing financial support and incentives, particularly given the state's high cost of living and relatively low teacher salaries compared to other states.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=388&year=2026