1-4 and professional development of teachers to encourage licensed teachers

1-5 to:

1-6 1. Teach in areas of this state in which a shortage of teachers exists.

1-7 2. Obtain an endorsement in a field of specialization where a

2-17 enter the field of teaching, including, without limitation, pupils who are

2-18 of diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and pupils who are

2-19 disadvantaged, economically or otherwise. The department shall work in

2-20 cooperation with:

2-21 (1) The boards of trustees of the school districts of this state to

2-22 determine the most effective methods to identify such pupils.

2-23 (2) The board of regents to recruit pupils into the program to

2-24 provide loans pursuant to sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act, to

2-25 students who are enrolled in programs of the University and Community

2-26 College System of Nevada that provide courses of study and training for

2-37 appropriation or otherwise, administer a program for the repayment of

2-38 student loans on behalf of eligible licensed teachers who teach in public

2-39 schools that are located in areas of this state in which a shortage of

2-40 teachers exists.

2-41 2. Regardless of whether he attended an institution of higher

2-42 education in this state, a teacher is eligible for the repayment of student

3-27 (a) Prepare an annual report that includes:

3-28 (1) The number of teachers who received money for repayment of

3-29 student loans pursuant to section 4 of this act and the amount of money

3-30 that was provided for each teacher;

3-31 (2) The number of teachers who received money for reimbursement

3-32 of costs pursuant to section 5 of this act and the amount of money that

3-33 was provided for each teacher; and

3-34 (3) An evaluation of the success of the programs administered by the

3-35 department pursuant to sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of this act.

3-36 (b) On or before December 31 of each year, submit a copy of the report

3-37 required by paragraph (a) to the director of the legislative counsel bureau

3-38 for transmission to:

3-39 (1) In an even-numbered year, the next regular session of the

3-40 legislature.

3-41 (2) In an odd-numbered year, the legislative commission.

3-42 (c) Adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of sections 2 to 6,

4-12 a designated officer or employee of the system, a program to provide

4-13 loans for fees, books and living expenses to students who are enrolled in

4-14 programs of the system that provide courses of study and training for the

4-15 education of teachers.

4-16 2. Each student to whom such a loan is made must:

4-17 (a) Have been a bona fide resident of this state for at least 6 months

4-18 before his matriculation in the system;

4-19 (b) At the time the loan is made, be enrolled in a program of the system

4-20 to become a licensed teacher;

4-21 (c) Fulfill all requirements for classification as a full-time student

4-22 showing progression towards completion of the program; and

4-23 (d) Maintain at least a 2.00 grade-point average in each class and at

4-24 least a 2.75 overall grade-point average, on a 4.0 grading scale.

4-25 3. Each such loan must be made upon the following terms:

4-26 (a) All loans must bear interest at 8 percent per annum beginning the

4-27 date when the student receives the loan.

4-28 (b) Each student who receives a loan shall repay the loan with interest

4-29 after the termination of his education for which the loan is made unless

4-30 the amount owed is reduced pursuant to section 10 of this act. The loan

4-31 must be repaid in monthly installments over the period allowed with the

4-32 first installment due 1 year after the date of the termination of his

4-33 education for which the loan is made. The amounts of the installments

4-34 must not be less than $50 and may be calculated to allow a smaller

4-35 payment at the beginning of the period for repayment, with each

4-36 succeeding payment gradually increasing so that the total amount due

4-37 will be paid within the period of repayment. The period for repayment of

4-38 the loans must be:

4-39 (1) Five years for loans which total less than $10,000.

4-40 (2) Eight years for loans which total $10,000 or more, but less than

4-41 $20,000.

5-9 this act must not exceed the following amounts per student per semester.

5-10 If the student is enrolled in a program of:

5-11 (a) A community college, $1,700.

5-12 (b) A university, $2,005.

5-13 2. Money loaned pursuant to sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act

5-14 must be allocated among the campuses of the system in amounts that will

5-15 allow the same percentage of eligible students from each campus who are

5-16 enrolled in programs that provide courses of study and training for the

5-19 who receives a loan pursuant to sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of this act

5-20 shall repay the loan and accrued interest in full pursuant to the terms of

5-21 the loan. A recipient who:

5-22 (a) Holds a license to teach issued pursuant to chapter 391 of NRS;

5-23 and

5-24 (b) Teaches full time for at least 1 school year in a public school in an

5-25 identified area of this state in which a shortage of teachers exists,

5-26 may apply to the board of regents to request a reduction in the amount of

5-27 the loan and interest that must be repaid. The board of regents shall

5-28 reduce the amount owed by the applicant upon receipt of credible

5-29 evidence that the applicant taught full time for at least 1 school year in a

5-30 public school in an area identified pursuant to subsection 3. For each

5-31 such year of qualified teaching service, the board of regents shall reduce

5-32 the amount owed by an amount equal to the average amount owed per

5-33 academic year during which the applicant received the loans.

5-34 2. The board of regents may adopt:

5-35 (a) Regulations which extend the time for completing the qualified

5-36 teaching service beyond 5 years for persons who are granted extensions

5-37 because of hardship;

5-38 (b) Regulations which grant prorated reductions in the amount due in

5-39 exchange for the actual amount of qualified teaching service, for cases in

5-40 which the period of the qualified teaching service is at least 1 year but not

5-41 equal to 1 complete school year per academic year during which the

6-11 1. A student to acquire, as security for a student loan, insurance on

6-12 his life and on his health or against his disability, or both.

6-13 2. That a financially responsible person agree to be jointly liable with

6-16 notice to a recipient of a loan, that he repay the balance and any unpaid

6-17 interest on the loan immediately if:

6-18 1. An installment is not paid within 30 days after it is due;

6-19 2. The recipient fails to notify the board of regents or its designee,

6-20 within 30 days, of:

6-21 (a) A change of name or of the address of his home or place of

6-22 employment; or

6-23 (b) The termination of the education for which he received the loan; or

6-24 3. The recipient fails to comply with a requirement or perform an

6-25 obligation he is required to perform pursuant to an agreement with the

6-28 of this act shall comply with the regulations adopted by the board of

6-29 regents. If a recipient fails to comply, the board of regents or its designee

6-30 may:

6-31 1. For each infraction, impose a fine of not more than $200 against

6-32 the recipient in 1 academic year, and may deny additional money to the

6-33 recipient if he fails to pay the fine when due;

6-34 2. Increase the portion of a future loan to be repaid by the recipient;

6-35 and

6-36 3. Extend the time by which the recipient is required to teach in this

6-39 an application stating the reasons therefor, grant an extension of the

6-40 period for the repayment of a loan in case of hardship arising out of the

6-41 circumstances of a recipient. The extension must be for a period that will

7-4 1. Receive, invest, disburse and account for all money received for the

7-5 program.

7-6 2. Report to the governor and the legislature on or before September

7-7 1 of each year immediately preceding a regular session of the legislature,

7-8 setting forth in detail the transactions conducted by the board of regents

7-9 relating to the program during the biennium ending June 30 of that year.

7-10 3. Make such recommendations for legislation that the board of