Section 457-610-1 - DEFINITIONSA.Academic Achievement. "Academic achievement" means earning a grade point average of at least 3.0, based on a 4.0 grade point system or the equivalent thereof as determined in the discretion of the chief executive officer, based upon the most recent cumulative grade point average.B.Authority. "Authority" means the Finance Authority of Maine.C.Chief Executive Officer. "Chief executive officer" means the Authority's chief executive officer or a person acting under the supervisory control of the chief executive officer.D.Child care. "Child care" means a regular service of care and protection provided for compensation for any part of a day less than 24 hours to a child or children under 13 years of age whose parents work outside the home, attend an educational program or are otherwise unable to care for their children.E.Child care facility. "Child care facility" means a child care center or a home day care provider as defined in 22 M.R.S.A. §8301-A.F.Child care provider qualifications. "Child care provider qualifications" means a degree or certificate from a child care development program including but not limited to child development, early childhood education, early childhood development, health and human services with a focus on early childhood, special education from birth to five years, and other similar programs as determined by the chief executive officer upon review of coursework and other relevant information.G.Cost of attendance. "Cost of attendance" has the same meaning as set forth in 20 U.S.C. § 108711 and the regulations, guidelines and procedures promulgated thereunder except, for students attending less than half-time, cost of attendance is determined on the same basis as for students attending half-time.H.Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education or a person acting under the supervisory control of the Commissioner.I.Duly enrolled. "Duly enrolled" means, for an undergraduate, enrolled full time and, for a post-baccalaureate student, enrolled at least part-time at an institution of higher education, as verified by the institution of higher education. L.Graduating High School Senior. "Graduating high school senior" means a student who is a resident of the State, who graduates from a secondary school or a home instruction program as described in 20-A MRSA §5001-A(3)(A)(4) and who is entering that student's first year in an institution of higher education at the beginning of the next academic year.M.Institution of Higher Education. "Institution of higher education" means an institution of higher education located within this State, another state or a foreign country that meets the requirements of and conforms to the definitions contained in the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. § 1001(a) and the regulations, guidelines and procedures promulgated by the Secretary of Education pursuant thereto.N.Most recent cumulative grade point average. "Most recent cumulative grade point average" means the cumulative grade point average ("GPA") or its equivalent after the applicant's most recently completed period of study.O.Return Service. "Return service" means service performed (i) as a certified teacher or speech pathologist in a public elementary or secondary school, publicly supported secondary school, or special education facility in Maine, as defined in 20-A MRSA §7001(6) or in a Maine private school approved for tuition purposes or in a state operated school, for a full school year; or, (ii) for borrowers who received their first program loan after January 1, 2000, in a child care facility for a 12 month period by an individual who has attained child care provider qualifications; or, (iii) as a Jobs for Maine's Graduates specialist with Department of Education teacher certification.P.Students pursuing post-baccalaureate certification. "Students pursuing post-baccalaureate certification" means students who have earned a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent and are pursuing a program of studies leading to initial certification as a teacher or speech pathologist or the attainment of child care provider qualifications.Q.Teacher. "Teacher" means a person certified by the Maine Department of Education who is employed as a teacher by a public school or private school approved for tuition purposes or a state operated school or a publicly supported secondary school or special education facility, as defined in 20-A MRSA §7001(6), including elementary and secondary teacher, specialized subject teacher, vocational or industrial arts teacher as defined in the certification rules of the State Board of Education and also includes by position title the following, unless modified by future legislation:(4) Librarian-media specialist(5) Special education teacher(6) Special teacher of reading(7) Speech pathologist/therapistR.Undergraduate. "Undergraduate" means any individual who has not been awarded any baccalaureate degree and who is currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full time student at an institution of higher education, including a graduating high school senior.S.Underserved Geographic Areas. "Underserved geographic areas" means those geographic areas of the State of Maine where there is an insufficient supply of teachers or speech pathologists as determined by the chief executive officer in consultation with the Commissioner.T.Underserved Subject Areas. "Underserved subject areas" means those subjects or programs required or authorized to be taught in the public schools for which there is an insufficient supply of teachers or speech pathologists as may be determined by the chief executive officer after consultation with the Commissioner.94- 457 C.M.R. ch. 610, § 1