(a) To be eligible for the base program of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per semester, an applicant shall satisfy all of the following:
(1) Be a graduate of a State Board of Education or State Department of Education approved program in math or science, at the baccalaureate or master's level, from an approved institution leading to an initial secondary professional educator certificate endorsed in math or science. A teacher who only earns a passing score on the Praxis test in math or science to add a certificate endorsement for math or science, and who has not completed an entire approved program, does not satisfy this requirement.
(2) Holds a valid Alabama professional educator certificate endorsed in secondary math or science, or both.
(3) Teaches math or science full-time in an Alabama public school district.
(4) Is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
(5) Has been a resident of Alabama for at least 12 months before the application deadline and provides documentation proving a permanent connection to the State of Alabama. The commission shall accept any one of the following as proof of residency:
a. A current valid Alabama driver's license.
b. A current valid Alabama vehicle registration.
c. A current valid Alabama voter registration card.
(6) Has outstanding federal student loans, subsidized or unsubsidized.
(7) Satisfies additional continuing eligibility criteria established by the commission.
(b) In order to receive a supplement pursuant to this article, in addition to the criteria listed in subsection (a), a recipient shall also teach math or science, or both, in a geographic area within the state with an acute teacher shortage in math or science, or both, as identified by the commission in consultation with the State Department of Education.
Last modified: May 3, 2021