002.01 Purposes
The purposes of the Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program
are to:
002.01A Attract outstanding
students to major in shortage areas at the teacher education programs of
Nebraska's postsecondary educational institutions;
002.01B Retain resident students and
graduates as teachers in the accredited or approved public and private schools
of Nebraska; and
002.01C Establish
a loan contract that requires a borrower to obtain employment as a teacher in
this state after graduation.
002.02 Definitions
For purposes of the Attracting Excellence to Teaching
Program:
002.02A
AETP shall mean the Attracting Excellence to Teaching
Program.
002.02B
Board shall mean the State Board of
Education.
002.02C
Borrower shall mean an eligible student who receives a
loan pursuant to the AETP.
002.02D
Department shall mean the State Department of
Education, which is comprised of the Board and the Commissioner of
Education.
002.02E
Eligible for the AETP shall mean an eligible student
who:
002.02E1 graduated in the top quarter of
his or her high school class or has a minimum cumulative grade point average of
3.0 on a four-point scale in an eligible institution;
002.02E2 agrees to complete a teacher
education program at an eligible institution and, for applicants applying for
the first time on or after April 23, 2009, to complete the major on which the
applicant's eligibility is based; and
002.02E3 commits to teach in an accredited or
approved public or private school in Nebraska upon successful completion of the
teacher education program for which the applicant is applying to the AETP and
to becoming certified pursuant to Sections
79-806 to
79-815
R.R.S.;
002.02F
Eligible institution shall mean a not-for-profit
college or university which:
002.02F1 is
located in Nebraska;
002.02F2 is
accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States
Department of Education as determined to be acceptable by the Board;
002.02F3 has a teacher education program;
and
002.02F4 if a privately funded
college or university has not opted out of the program pursuant to Section
002.04C of this Chapter.
002.02G
Eligible
student shall mean an individual who:
002.02G1 is a full-time student;
002.02G2 is enrolled in an eligible
institution in an undergraduate or a graduate teacher education program working
toward his or her initial certificate to teach in Nebraska;
002.02G3 if enrolled at a state-funded
eligible institution, is a resident student as described in Section
85-502
R.R.S. or, if enrolled in a privately funded eligible institution, would be
deemed a resident student if enrolled in a state-funded eligible
institution;
002.02G4 for
applicants applying for the first time on or after April 23, 2009, is a student
majoring in a shortage area; and
002.02G5 for applicants applying to receive a
loan during fiscal year 2011-2012 or 2012-2013, is a student who previously
received a loan pursuant to the AETP in the fiscal year immediately preceding
the fiscal year in which the new loan would be received.
002.02H
Employed as a
teacher shall mean employment equivalent to 0.5 full-time
employment (FTE) or greater under one (1) or more teaching contracts with an
approved or accredited Nebraska school throughout the course of one (1) school
year or a period of two (2) consecutive school terms that are the equivalent of
one (1) school year (e.g., one (1) spring semester and the following fall
semester). Substitute teachers who meet this requirement shall be considered
employed as a teacher. This term also means employment by an Educational
Service Unit (ESU) as a certificated employee as defined in Section
79-1234(2)
R.R.S. when the certificated employee will
be functioning as a teacher throughout the course of one (1) school year or a
period of two (2) consecutive school terms that are the equivalent of one (1)
school year (e.g., one (1) spring semester and the following fall semester) in
an approved or accredited Nebraska school pursuant to authority provided in the
Educational Service Unit Act (Section
79-1201
R.R.S., et. seq.).
002.02I
Employed as a full-time
teacher shall mean full-time employment (FTE) equivalent to 1.0
FTE under one (1) or more teaching contracts with an approved or accredited
Nebraska school throughout the course of one (1) school year or a period of two
(2) consecutive school terms that are the equivalent of one (1) school year
(e.g., one (1) spring semester and the following fall semester). Substitute
teachers who meet this requirement shall be considered employed as a full-time
teacher. This term also means employment by an Educational Service Unit (ESU)
as a certificated employee as defined in Section
79-1234(2)
R.R.S. when the certificated employee will
be functioning as a teacher equivalent to 1.0 FTE throughout the course of one
(1) school year or a period of two (2) consecutive school terms that are the
equivalent of one (1) school year (e.g., one (1) spring semester and the
following fall semester) in an approved or accredited Nebraska school pursuant
to authority provided in the Educational Service Unit Act (Section
79-1201
R.R.S. et. seq.).
002.02J
Full-time
student shall mean, in the aggregate, the equivalent of a student
who in a twelve-month (12) period has completed or is enrolled in twenty-four
(24) semester credit hours for undergraduate students or eighteen (18) semester
credit hours for graduate students of classroom, laboratory, clinical,
practicum, or independent study course work.
002.02K
Loan shall
mean an amount of money advanced under a contract to a borrower pursuant to the
AETP.
002.02L
Majoring
in a shortage area shall mean pursuing a degree which will allow
an individual to be properly endorsed to teach in a shortage area.
002.02M
Repayment
period shall mean the time during which the borrower is required
to make payments on the loan or loans.
002.
02NRepayment status shall mean when a
borrower meets any of the conditions triggering repayment commencement
described in Section
002.05A of this
Chapter.
002.02O
Secular field of teaching shall mean teaching areas
covered by teaching endorsements identified in 92 NAC 24 excluding Religious
Education.
002.02P
Shortage area shall mean a secular field of teaching
for which there is a shortage, as determined by the Department, of properly
endorsed teachers pursuant to Section 004 of this Chapter, at the time the
borrower first receives funds pursuant to the program.
002.02Q
Teacher
shall mean an individual who holds a valid teaching certificate and who is
regularly employed for the instruction of pupils pursuant to Section
79-101
R.R.S. For purposes of this Chapter, this definition does not include
administrative or special services certificate holders who are employed in
positions requiring these endorsements.
002.02R
Teacher education
program shall mean a program of study approved by the State Board
of Education pursuant to subdivision (5) (g) of Section
79-318
R.R.S.
002.03
Application Process
002.03A
Application. In order to be considered for a loan, an
eligible student must complete the appropriate application forms prescribed by
the Department.
002.03A1 Incomplete
applications will not be considered for a loan.
002.03B
Deadlines.
002.03B1 Applications must be submitted to
the administrator responsible for the teacher education program in which the
applicant is enrolled by a date determined by the administrator. Applications
recommended by the institution must be received by the Department on or before
December 1 of each year in which funds are available.
002.03B2 Applications recommended by the
institution for reallocated funds as described in Section
002.04B of this
Chapter must be received by the Department on or before February 1 of each year
in which reallocated funds are available.
002.03C
Maximum
amounts. Eligible students may apply, on an annual basis, for
loans in an amount of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) per year.
Loans awarded to an eligible student shall not exceed a cumulative period
exceeding five (5) consecutive years.
002.03D
Awards.
Loans shall only be awarded through an eligible institution and funded pursuant
to Section
79-8,137.05
R.R.S. Prior to receiving any money from a loan pursuant to the AETP, an
eligible student shall enter into a contract with the Department.
002.03E
Distribution. The Department shall allocate the funds
to be distributed for the AETP to all eligible institutions according to the
formula set forth in Section
002.04 of this Chapter, except that
the distribution of funds for each of fiscal years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013
shall be proportional based on the amounts applied for by eligible students at
each eligible institution, and that no more than one hundred percent (100%) of
such amounts shall be distributed.
002.03E1
Eligible institutions shall act as agents of the Department in the distribution
of funds to borrowers.
002.03E2
Eligible institutions shall disburse funds directly to the borrower in a lump
sum unless another manner or method of disbursement or distribution has been
authorized, in writing, by the borrower.
002.04 Formula
The formula for the distribution of the appropriated funds to
eligible institutions that have not opted out of the AETP according to Section
002.04C of this
Chapter, except as provided in Section
002.03E of this
Chapter, shall be based on the percentage of the most recent teacher education
program completer data generated by each eligible institution. The percentage
of funds allocated to each eligible institution will match the institution's
percentage of the total teacher education program completers from all eligible
institutions.
002.04A The allocation
of available funds will be reported to each participating eligible institution
at the beginning of the school year, or no later than October 15 of each year.
002.04B Funds not awarded pursuant
to Section
002.03B1 of this
Chapter will be reallocated to those institutions that notify the Department on
or by December 1 of the institution's desire to be considered for the
reallocated funds. The reallocation of available funds will be reported to
eligible institutions no later than December 15 of each year that those funds
are available.
002.
04COpting Out Provisions. An eligible
institution may opt out of the AETP by notifying the Commissioner of Education,
in writing, postmarked or emailed by May 1 prior to the academic year for which
loans are available, of the institution's intent not to participate in the
AETP. Such notification will be considered in force until the Commissioner is
notified, in writing, of the institution's intent to recommence its
participation in the AETP.
002.05 Loan Contract Provisions
Prior to receiving any money from a loan pursuant to the
AETP, an eligible student shall enter into a contract with the
Department.
002.05A
Repayment Commencement.
002.05A1 For eligible students who applied
for the first time prior to April 23, 2009:
002.05A1a If the borrower is not employed as
a teacher in Nebraska for a time period equal to the number of years required
for loan forgiveness or is not enrolled as a full-time student in a graduate
program within six (6) months after obtaining an undergraduate degree for which
a loan from the AETP was obtained or the borrower does not complete the
requirements for graduation within five (5) consecutive years after receiving
the initial loan under the AETP, then the loan must be repaid, with interest at
the rate fixed pursuant to Section
45-103
R.R.S. accruing as of the date the borrower signed the contract.
002.05A2 For eligible students who
applied for the first time on or after April 23, 2009:
002.05A2a If the borrower is not employed as
a full-time teacher in an approved or accredited school in Nebraska and
teaching at least a portion of the time in the shortage area for which the loan
was received for a time period equal to the number of years required for loan
forgiveness and is not enrolled as a full-time student in a graduate program
within six (6) months after obtaining an undergraduate degree for which a loan
from the AETP was obtained or the borrower does not complete the requirements
for graduation within five (5) consecutive years after receiving the initial
loan under the AETP, then the loan must be repaid, with interest at the rate
fixed pursuant to Section
45-103
R.R.S. accruing as of the date the borrower signed the contract and actual
collection costs as determined by the Department.
002.05A3 If the borrower fails to remain
enrolled at an eligible institution or otherwise fails to meet the requirements
of an eligible student, repayment of the loan shall commence within six (6)
months after such change in eligibility.
002.05A4 The interest rate for the entire
repayment period shall be that which is in effect under Section
45-103
R.R.S. on the date that the borrower signed the contract.
002.05B
Repayment
Procedures. Repayment will be made on a monthly basis on a
schedule which allows up to two (2) years of payments for all loans received.
The borrower, at his/her option, may accelerate payment on all or any part of
the loan principal plus accrued interest at any time without penalty. Monthly
payments must be received at the Department no later than the 15th of each
month.
002.05C
Penalty. In the event the borrower fails to make a
scheduled payment of any installment due, the entire unpaid indebtedness
including interest due shall become, at the option of the Commissioner,
immediately due and payable.
002.05D
Repayment
Exceptions.002.05D1
Cancellation. The repayment obligation shall be
cancelled if the Commissioner determines that:
002.05D1a The borrower is unable to teach
because s/he is permanently totally disabled, on the basis of verification from
the Social Security Administration; or
002.05D1b The borrower has died, on the basis
of a death certificate or other evidence conclusive under State law provided by
next of kin or personal administrator of the estate.
002.05D2
Deferment.
A deferment of the repayment period may be granted by the Commissioner if the
borrower is in repayment status and can substantiate that s/he is:
002.05D2a engaging in a full-time course of
study at an institution of higher education;
002.05D2b serving on active duty as a member
of the Armed Forces of the United States, for a period not in excess of three
(3) years;
002.05D2c temporarily
totally disabled as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified
physician, for a period not in excess of three (3) years;
002.05D2d unable to secure employment by
reason of the care required by a disabled child, spouse, or parent for a period
not in excess of twelve (12) months; or
002.05D2e seeking and unable to find
full-time employment for a single period not in excess of twelve (12)
months.
002.05D3
Qualification for Exceptions. To qualify for a
cancellation or deferment, the borrower must notify the Department, in writing,
of his or her claim and provide supporting documentation of the claim. If the
borrower's claim is accepted, s/he will not be required to make repayments nor
will interest accrue on the outstanding balance during the deferment
period.
002.05E
Loan Forgiveness.
002.05E1 For eligible students who applied
for the first time prior to April 23, 2009:
002.05E1a If the borrower successfully
completes the teacher education program and becomes certified pursuant to
Sections
79-806 to
79-815
R.R.S., becomes employed as a teacher in this state within six (6) months of
becoming certified, and otherwise meets the requirements of the contract,
payments shall be suspended for the number of years that the borrower is
required to remain employed as a teacher in this state under the contract. For
each year that the borrower teaches in Nebraska pursuant to the contract,
payments shall be forgiven in an amount equal to the amount borrowed for one
(1) year, except that if the borrower teaches in a school district that is in a
local system classified in the very sparse cost grouping as defined in Section
79-1003
R.R.S. or teaches in a school district in which at least forty percent (40%) of
the students are poverty students as provided in Section
79-1003
R.R.S., payments shall be forgiven each year in an amount equal to the amount
borrowed for two (2) years.
002.05E2 For eligible students who applied
for the first time on or after April 23, 2009:
002.05E2a If the borrower successfully
completes the teacher education program and major for which the borrower is
receiving a forgivable loan pursuant to the program and becomes certified
pursuant to Sections
79-806 to
79-815
R.R.S. with an endorsement in the shortage area for which the loan was
received, becomes employed as a full-time teacher teaching at least a portion
of the time in the shortage area for which the loan was received in an approved
or accredited school in Nebraska within six (6) months of becoming certified,
and otherwise meets the requirements of the contract, payments shall be
suspended for the number of years that the borrower is required to remain
employed as a teacher in this state under the contract. Beginning after the
first two (2) years of teaching full-time in Nebraska following graduation for
the degree for which the loan was received, for each year that the borrower
teaches full-time in Nebraska pursuant to the contract, the loan shall be
forgiven in an amount equal to three thousand dollars ($3,000), except that if
the borrower teaches full-time in a school district that is in a local system
classified as very sparse as defined in Section
79-1003
R.R.S., teaches in a school building that provides free meals to all students
pursuant to the community eligibility provision, teaches in a school building
in which at least forty percent (40%) of the formula students are poverty
students as defined in Section
79-1003
R.R.S., or teaches in an accredited or approved private school in Nebraska in
which at least forty percent (40%) of the enrolled students qualified for free
lunches as determined by the most recent data available from the Department,
payments shall be forgiven each year in an amount equal to six thousand dollars
($6,000).
002.05E3 When a
loan has been forgiven pursuant to Section 002.05E of this Chapter, the amount
forgiven may be taxable income to the borrower and the Department shall provide
notification of the amount forgiven to the borrower, the Department of Revenue,
and the United States Internal Revenue Service if required by the Internal
Revenue Code.
002.05F
Default. Failure of a borrower to either fulfill the
terms necessary for loan forgiveness according to Section
002.05E of this
Chapter or repay the loan according to Section
002.05A of this
Chapter shall constitute a default. Borrowers in default may be referred to a
collection agency according to Section
45-623
R.R.S.