H259 - 2023 Appropriations Act. (SL 2023-134)

Overview: Section 8A.4 of S.L. 2023-134 revises the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program by expanding the qualifying licensure areas to include elementary education (K-6) in addition to special education and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).

Additionally, this section requires the State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA) to administer the Teaching Fellows Program in cooperation with 10 institutions instead of only 8. Institutions with educator preparation programs enrolling loan recipients in an elementary education program must provide training that is aligned with the Science of Reading. A third-party entity will biennially evaluate whether the institution's training is aligned with the Science of Reading.

This section also increases the amount per loan award from $4,125 to $5,000 per semester. For each year that a teacher who has received a forgivable loan remains a qualifying teacher, the SEAA will forgive one year's worth of the loan, including any interest that has accrued.

This section became effective July 1, 2023, and applies to applications for the award of funds beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.