(a) Be registered as a student in an eligible post-secondary institution;

(b) Agree to receive training as a student under the supervision of a staff person employed by an education service district or a school district;

(c) Agree to be employed in Oregon for a minimum of two years as a speech-language pathologist or speech-language pathology assistant within the education service district where the participant received training as a student;

(d) Agree to pay back any amount received by the participant as a grant if the participant does not meet the employment requirement of the program; and

(e) Meet other requirements placed on the participant by the Department of Education.

(2) The Department of Education shall award to each participant selected by the department for participation in the program:

(a) A grant in an amount that is up to $2,000 per academic year for participants who are registered in programs to become speech-language pathology assistants; and

(b) A grant in an amount that is up to $9,000 per academic year for participants who are registered in programs to become speech-language pathologists.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, a participant may not receive a grant under this section that is in an amount that is greater than the tuition costs of the participant.

(4) A participant shall complete the employment requirement specified under subsection (1) of this section not later than three years after the date the participant graduates from the program. The department may grant a participant additional time to complete the employment requirement as follows:

(a) For the period of enrollment if a participant returns to school on a full-time basis in any course of study at an eligible post-secondary institution; and

(b) For a period determined by the State Board of Education for other reasons allowed by the board.

(5) If a participant does not meet the employment requirement, the participant must pay back any amount received by the participant as a grant under the program. The department shall deposit any moneys received under this subsection in the Speech-Language Pathologist Training Fund. [2007 c.839 §23]

Note: See note under 348.394.