Section 457-603-6 - Loans to TeachersA. Initial Loan Eligibility (1) The teacher must be employed in a Maine school.(2) The teacher must be employed on at least a half-time basis as determined by the local school unit.(3) The teacher must be seeking enrollment in a course or program which is directly related t improvement and/or expansion of teaching competence.(4) The teacher must sign an agreement which details conditions to be met for receipt of a loan.(5) Preference shall be given to those teachers presently teaching or intending to teach either in an underserved subject area or in a geographically isolated area.(6) The teacher must sign a statement certifying compliance with the United States Military Selective Service Registration Act or certifying the basis for an exemption from such compliance.(7) The teacher must be a Maine resident.(8) The teacher must submit a signed statement from the superintendent which will outline the district's educational reimbursement policy, along with an itemized expense form for that year's education. The Blaine House loan plus local reimbursement cannot exceed a teacher's cost of attendance, which includes tuition, books and supplies, room and board, travel and other reasonable expenses.B. Renewal Loan Eligibility (1) The teacher must have received an initial loan.(2) The teacher must apply annually for loan renewal, but such renewal shall be automatic provided that the teacher maintains at minimum a grade point average of 2.5 based on a 4.0 grade point system or the equivalent thereof, as determined in the discretion of the chief executive officer and meets the requirement of section 6.A(3).(3) The teacher must sign an agreement which details conditions to be met for receipt of a loan.(4) The teacher must maintain residence in the State of Maine in order to be eligible for a renewal loan.(5) The teacher must submit a signed statement from the superintendent which will outline the district's educational reimbursement policy, along with an itemized expense form for that years education. The Blaine House loan plus local reimbursement cannot exceed a teacher's cost of attendance, which includes tuition, books and supplies, room and board, travel, and other reasonable expenses.C. General Acceptance by a teacher of an initial loan or a renewal of a previous loan may be deferred for one academic year only, provided that the teacher enrolls in a program which meets the requirements of section 6.A(3) immediately upon conclusion of the one year deferment period. If the teacher fails to be duly enrolled in a higher education institution by the beginning of the second academic year following receipt of an initial loan or renewal loan, the teacher shall be ineligible for further program participation.
94- 457 C.M.R. ch. 603, § 6