HS HCS HB 1888 -- LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR TEACHERS IN
ESSENTIAL NEEDS DISTRICTS (Wilson, 42)

This substitute creates a program to provide loan repayment
assistance for teachers who teach full-time in a provisionally
accredited or unaccredited school district.  Such teachers must
have graduated from a nationally accredited teacher education
program with at least a 3.00 grade point average on a 4.00 scale
and must agree to teach in the district for at least the number
of years they receive assistance on any loan.  The repayment of
such loans must have begun within the last 5 years.  The
repayment amount cannot exceed $3,500 plus applicable accrued
interest.  Teachers who lose their certification, are fired, or
quit will lose the assistance on a pro-rated basis.  A teacher
whose certification is restored may have the assistance
reinstated.

FISCAL NOTE:  Cost to General Revenue Fund of $415,179 in FY
2001, $421,069 in FY 2002, and $422,874 in FY 2003.

HCS HB 1888 -- LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR TEACHERS IN
ESSENTIAL NEEDS DISTRICTS

SPONSOR:  Farnen (Wilson, 42)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Higher
Education by a vote of 17 to 3.

This bill creates a program to provide loan repayment assistance
for teachers who teach full-time in a provisionally accredited
or unaccredited school district.  Such teachers must have
graduated from a nationally accredited teacher education program
with at least a 3.00 grade point average on a 4.00 scale and
must agree to teach in the district for at least the number of
years they receive assistance on any loan.  The repayment of
such loans must have begun within the last 5 years.  The
repayment amount cannot exceed $4,000 plus applicable accrued
interest.  Teachers who lose their certification, are fired, or
quit will lose the assistance on a pro-rated basis.  A teacher
whose certification is restored may have the assistance
reinstated.

FISCAL NOTE:  Cost to General Revenue Fund of $465,179 in FY
2001, $471,069 in FY 2002, and $472,874 in FY 2003.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the repayment assistance
program will encourage students to become teachers and will help
attract teachers to positions in areas experiencing
accreditation difficulties.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Wilson (42); Dr.
Mary Wyatt, Lincoln University; and St. Louis Public Schools
Board of Education.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Debra Cheshier, Senior Legislative Analyst

HB 1888 -- Loan Repayment Assistance for Teachers in Special
Needs Districts

Co-Sponsors:  Wilson (42), Gaw, Riley, Thompson (72), Fraser,
Troupe, Shelton, Gunn, Auer, Dougherty

This bill creates a program to provide loan repayment assistance
for teachers who teach full-time in a provisionally accredited
or unaccredited school district.  Such teachers must agree to
teach in the district for at least the number of years they
receive assistance on any loan.  The repayment of such loans
must have begun within the last 5 years.  The repayment amount
cannot exceed $4,000 plus applicable accrued interest.  Teachers
who lose their certification, are fired, or quit will lose the
assistance on a pro-rated basis.  A teacher whose certification
is restored may have the assistance reinstated.