Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

This page contains the text of a regulation adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education.  An official copy of the full text of this regulation is contained in the Code of State Regulations, published by the Office of Secretary of State.

Pending Rules | Emergency Rules | Rules Arranged By Topic | Rules Arranges by Number | Incorporated by Reference Material

5 CSR 80-850.025   Missouri Critical Teacher Shortage Forgivable Loan Program 

PURPOSE:  Section 168.600, RSMo, establishes a critical teacher shortage forgivable loan program.  Upper division undergraduate or graduate level students enrolled full-time in approved teacher education programs leading to teacher certification would be eligible to apply for this program. This program would provide forgivable loans of up to four thousand dollars ($4,000) for undergraduate students and eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for graduate students who declared an intent to teach in Missouri public elementary and secondary schools in critical teacher shortage areas.  The General Assembly makes an annual appropriation for the purpose of funding this program.  This rule sets forth requirements for the implementation of this program. 

(1)  The Missouri critical teacher shortage forgivable loan program contains the following:

(A)  For the purpose of this rule, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, critical teacher shortage area shall mean:

1.  Certification areas identified annually by the statistical analysis conducted by the Division of Teacher Quality and Urban Education, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and submitted to the U.S. Department of Education as critical teacher shortage areas; and/or

2.  School buildings that serve low income families (one-third (1/3) or more of the students qualify for free and reduced price meals);

(B)  An undergraduate forgivable loan may be awarded annually for two (2) undergraduate years and shall not exceed four thousand dollars ($4,000) per year, or for a maximum of three (3) years for programs requiring a fifth year of instruction to obtain initial teaching certification; and

(C)  A graduate forgivable loan may be awarded annually for two (2) graduate years and shall not exceed eight thousand dollars ($8,000) per year. 

(2)  Eligible candidates are residents of Missouri and will be chosen on a first come first served basis with preference given to applicants who declare an intent to teach in both an identified certification area and school building that serves low income families and who meet the following requirements:

(A)  Are upper division undergraduate or graduate students attending full-time a Missouri higher education institution with a DESE approved teacher education program;

(B)  Participate in a program of study leading to issuance of a certificate of license to teach;

(C)  Has declared an intent to teach for at least the number of years for which a forgivable loan is received in Missouri public elementary and/or secondary schools of Missouri in a critical teacher shortage area;

(D)  Have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate work (undergraduate students) or have maintained a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate work (graduate students); and

(E)  Agree to notify DESE annually on October 1 in the format and on the schedule prescribed by DESE, of his/her current status as a student during years of college attendance and as a teacher following receipt of a certificate of license to teach.

(3)  Applications must be postmarked by May 1 on a form provided by DESE:

(A)  Applications will contain the following:

1.  Applicant’s name and residential address;

2.  Applicant’s date of birth and Social Security number;

3.  Name of the college or university attending;

4.  Certification area being pursued; and

5.  Declaration of intent to teach in a critical teacher shortage area.

(4)  Following notification that the applicant has been selected to receive a loan, an applicant shall respond to DESE to accept or decline the loan no later than July 1.  The loans shall be dispersed as follows:

(A)  After the recipient has completed registration procedures at the college or university and is ready to attend class at the beginning of the first and second semester of the    fiscal year, the financial aid officer or scholarship awards officer shall give the recipient a check from the state in an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000) for undergraduate or four thousand dollars ($4,000) for graduate students made payable to the recipient.  The exact number of loans will be based upon legislative appropriation and the number of eligible applicants;

(B)  At the beginning of the first and second semesters after the recipient has completed all enrollment requirements, is ready to attend class, and when the check from the state is delivered to the student, the recipient shall sign a promissory note which obligates the student to fulfill the commitment to be made by the recipient, with the provision that funds received shall be repaid according to the terms of this rule if the student defaults on the commitments; and

(C)  The state board of education may set aside fifteen percent (15%) of the loans for awards to qualified minority recipients.

(5)  Participating colleges or universities must:

(A)  Be located in Missouri;

(B)  Offer a teacher education program approved by DESE;

(C)  Report immediately to DESE the name of any enrolled recipient who ceases study   leading to teacher certification; and

(D)  Agree to serve as agent for the state in obtaining notarized signatures of recipients on promissory notes, which will be sent by DESE to the designated college official along with the loan checks.  The college or university agrees to return the signed and notarized promissory notes to DESE.

(6)  Repayment.

(A)  Credit for repayment of a forgivable loan shall be in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) in loan principal plus applicable accrued interest for each full year of teaching in a critical teacher shortage area as defined in paragraph (1)(A) 1. or 2. of this rule.  However, credit in the amount of four thousand dollars ($4,000) in loan principal plus applicable accrued interest for each full year of teaching in a critical teacher shortage area as defined in paragraphs (1)(A) 1. and 2. of this rule.

(B)  Any loan recipient who fails to complete initial certification requirements, fails to obtain a certificate of license to teach in a critical teacher area or fails to teach in a Missouri public elementary or secondary school in a critical teacher shortage area shall repay the loan plus interest accruing at eight percent (8%) annually.  In order to provide for the servicing of such loans, DESE may sell such loans to the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority pursuant to state law and regulations.

AUTHORITY:    sections 161.092 and 168.600, RSMo 2000.*  Original rule filed June 28, 2001, effective Jan. 30, 2002.

*Original authority:  161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973 and 168.600, RSMo 1999.        

         For more information regarding this rule, please contact the
Educator Recruitment and Retention Section at (573) 751-1668.