Tennessee § 49-4-936 - Eligibility for HOPE teacher's scholarship.

§ 49-4-936. Eligibility for HOPE teacher's scholarship.

To be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship, a teacher shall: Be a tenured teacher teaching in a Tennessee public school system; Not be ineligible for the scholarship under § 49-4-904; Meet the requirements of § 49-4-905(a). Section 49-4-905(b) shall not apply to teachers seeking Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarships; Be admitted to and attend an eligible postsecondary institution seeking an advanced degree in mathematics or a science or certification to teach mathematics or a science; Maintain satisfactory progress in the teacher's program of study; Agree to teach mathematics or a science in a Tennessee public school system one (1) academic year for each year of funding provided by a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship and sign a promissory note that stipulates the cash repayment obligation incurred if the teaching service is not fulfilled. If a teacher fails to teach mathematics or a science in a Tennessee public school system for the number of years required to fulfill the teacher's obligation pursuant to the award of a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship, then all funds obtained from the award of the scholarship shall be repaid; provided, however, that no repayment shall be due if TSAC finds that it is impossible for the teacher to fulfill the obligation because of the death or permanent disability of the teacher; and Apply for a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship no later than August 1, 2020, or a renewal of a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship by the deadline published on TSAC's website each year thereafter. Except as provided in subdivisions (b)(2) and (3), no minimum number of hours of enrollment is required for eligibility for a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship. The program of study a teacher is attempting shall be completed within five (5) years, beginning with the first term for which scholarship funds are awarded. A teacher's eligibility for a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship expires if the teacher has a break in enrollment at an eligible postsecondary institution of more than twelve (12) months. Subject to the amounts appropriated by the general assembly and any law relating to a shortfall in funds available for postsecondary financial assistance from the net proceeds of the state lottery, a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship awarded to a teacher shall be two thousand dollars ($2,000) per year. The total amount of a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship awarded to a teacher shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for all years required for the teacher's program of study. No retroactive award of a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship shall be made under this section. Scholarships awarded under this section shall not commence prior to fall semester, 2006. Acts 2006, ch. 977, § 1; 2017, ch. 376, § 1; 2020, ch. 794, § 52. Compiler's Notes. Acts 2006, ch. 977, § 5 provided that the Tennessee student assistance corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the act. All such rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5. Acts 2006, ch. 977, § 6 provided that the provisions of the act shall not be construed to be an appropriation of funds and no funds shall be obligated or expended pursuant to the act unless such funds are specifically appropriated by the general appropriations act. For the Preamble to the act concerning HOPE Lottery Scholarships and the Tennessee Promise and Reconnect programs, see Acts 2020, ch. 794. Acts 2020, ch. 794, § 1 provided that the act, which amended this section, shall be known and may be cited as the “Financial Aid Simplification for Tennesseans (FAST) Act”. Amendments. The 2020 amendment added “no later than August 1, 2020, or a renewal of a Tennessee HOPE teacher's scholarship by the deadline published on TSAC's website each year thereafter” at the end of (a)(7). Effective Dates. Acts 2020, ch. 794, § 70. August 1, 2020.