18A:71C-78 Tuition reimbursement program for certain STEM teachers in public schools.

5. a. There is established in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority a tuition reimbursement program for teachers of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) in the State. The program shall provide reimbursement for a portion of the eligible tuition expenses incurred by the participant in completing a master's degree or Ph.D. program in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics or in completing 30 credits in a coherent sequence of courses in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. The annual amount of State funds appropriated to the tuition reimbursement program shall not exceed $500,000. The authority shall notify the Legislature when the funds have been fully expended or committed.

b. A program participant shall enter into a contract with the authority for a specified four-year period of service in which the participant agrees to teach STEM classes in a public school in the State following the participant's completion of a master's degree or Ph.D. program in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics or the completion of 30 credits in a coherent sequence of courses in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. The agreement shall specify the program participant's dates of required service and the total amount of reimbursement of eligible tuition expenses to be received by the participant in return for service.

c. The tuition reimbursement for a program participant shall equal 25 percent of the participant's eligible tuition expenses, up to $5,000, in return for each full school year of teaching STEM classes under the program. The total tuition reimbursement amount for a program participant, for four full school years of service, shall not exceed $20,000 of the participant's eligible tuition expenses. A teacher shall be required to complete four full school years of service in order to be eligible to receive tuition reimbursement under the program.

d. The authority shall advertise the availability of the program and engage in outreach activities with potential participants.

L.2019, c.401, s.5.