Bill > H7458

This bill establishes a postsecondary tuition assistance program in Rhode Island to address shortages of teachers in specific fields, such as science and mathematics for grades seven through twelve. The program, administered by the Office of Postsecondary Commissioner (OPC), will create a dedicated fund to help eligible individuals pay for tuition, room, board, mandatory fees, and other necessary educational expenses at Rhode Island postsecondary institutions. To receive this assistance, individuals must be enrolled or accepted into a program to become a teacher in a shortage field and commit to teaching full-time in such a field in Rhode Island for at least three years after completing their studies. The bill also clarifies that recipients are not required to take standardized tests like the SAT or AP exams for program admission and are not restricted by residency requirements. If a recipient leaves their program before graduating or fails to fulfill the teaching service requirement, the tuition assistance received will convert into a loan that must be repaid. The OPC is tasked with defining additional shortage fields, developing application guides, and establishing regulations for fulfilling the service requirement, including provisions for leaves of absence. The bill also mandates annual reporting on the program's effectiveness, including the number of recipients, funds disbursed, and shortage areas addressed, while ensuring individual privacy.

Budget and Finance

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