A. The department may grant a loan repayment award to repay loans obtained for the teacher educational expenses of a teacher upon such terms and conditions as may be imposed by rules of the department.
B. Applicants shall be licensed New Mexico teachers who are bona fide citizens and residents of the United States and of New Mexico and have taught at least three years in New Mexico. High priority shall be given to applicants who are teaching in designated high-need teacher positions in the state.
C. The department and the public education department shall jointly make a full and careful investigation of the ability and qualifications of each applicant and determine the fitness of a teacher to participate in the teacher loan repayment program.
History: Laws 2013, ch. 177, § 4; 2019, ch. 193, § 3.
The 2019 amendment, effective June 14, 2019, revised the qualifications for receiving a loan repayment award to repay loans obtained for the teacher educational expenses of a teacher; and in Subsection B, added "and have taught at least three years in New Mexico. High priority shall be given to", after "applicants", deleted "shall declare their intent to practice as teachers" and added "who are teaching", and after "designated", deleted "high-risk" and added "high-need".
Structure 2021 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 21 - State and Private Education Institutions
Article 22H - Teacher Loan Repayment
Section 21-22H-1 - Short title.
Section 21-22H-3 - Definitions.
Section 21-22H-4 - Department powers and duties; teacher eligibility; qualifications.
Section 21-22H-5 - Loan repayment award criteria; contract terms; payment.
Section 21-22H-6 - Contracts; enforcement.
Section 21-22H-7 - Teacher loan repayment fund created; method of payment.