HOPE teacher scholarship loans for graduate study in critical shortage fields: 2004-2005 academic year

HOPE Teacher
Scholarship Loans For Graduate Study In Critical Shortage
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Georgia Student finance Commission
Loans Scholarships Grants
Giving Students Fina11cial Choices since 1965
www.gsfc.org 1-800-505-GSFC (4732)

Program Overview:
If you love teaching and want to earn an advanced degree, or ifyou have an undergraduate degree and would like to become a teacher, Georgia's HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program may be able to help you pay for your education. The HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program - funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education - provides forgivable loans to individuals seeking advanced education degrees in critical shortage fields of study. You simply repay your loan by teaching in a Georgia public school classroom after earning your advanced degree, saving you money and helping fill the need for qualified professionals in these teaching fields . It's a program that benefits Georgia teachers and students in their classrooms.
Eligible Recipients:
The HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program assists a broad range of individuals, including:
-, Teachers Without a Master's Degree. This includes teachers who have a Bachelor's Degree and are seeking an advanced degree in a critical shortage field . . , Teachers and Individuals With a Master's or Specialist Degree. This includes:
Teachers and individuals who have a Master's Degree in a critical shortage field and are seeking a Specialist or Doctorate Degree in their current critical shortage field;
Teachers and individuals who have a Master's Degree in a non-critical shortage field and are seeking an advanced degree in a critical shortage field; and
Teachers and individuals who have a Specialist Degree in a critical shortage field and are seeking a Doctorate Degree in their current critical shortage field .
. ,Georgians With a Bachelor's Degree Who Are Not Currently Teaching or Who Have Not Taught. This includes individuals who have a Bachelor's Degree who are seeking an advanced degree in a critical shortage field.
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible, you must:
Be a legal resident of Georgia; and
Be fully admitted for regular admission into a graduate school and into an advanced degree teacher education program leading to certification

in a critical shortage field. Students whose admission status is provisional are not eligible. If you are not eligible for HOPE and you are an inservice teacher, you may wish to contact your local staff development coordinator to learn about course-work eligible for funding through your school system.
Scholarship Loan Amount:
Maximum awards are based on the number of credit hours necessary for students to complete their program of study. Scholarship loan funds can be used toward any part of the student's cost ofattendance. Students who attend an eligible public college receive $125 per semester hour. At an eligible private college, students receive $200 per semester hour or quarter equivalent.
Loan Forgiveness:
Recipients of the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan are granted a grace period of one year after completing their approved program. After the grace period, recipients are obligated to teach in their critical shortage field of study in a Georgia public school classroom at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level one academic year for each $2,500 awarded through the scholarship loan, with a maximum of four years to repay.
If you are unable to complete your program or meet your teaching obligation, you must repay any outstanding loan amounts, plus interest, to the State of Georgia.
NOTE: Once you havefulfilled your loan obligation, you may applyfor another HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loanfor a more advanced degree in the samefield.
Application Process:
Applications for the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program are available each Spring through any eligible public or private college or university in Georgia (listed in this brochure) or directly from the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Applicants must complete their part of the application and obtain signatures from the institution's College of Education teacher certification official and the financial aid office. The completed application is then forwarded directly to the Georgia Student Finance Commission for consideration.
Approximately 2,000 scholarship loans are awarded each academic year on a first-come, first-

served basis. Scholarship loan funds are provided directly to the school's financial aid office and are disbursed on a semester-by-semester basis.
Renewal Applicants:
If you are currently receiving the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan, you must complete a Renewal Application each academic year. The Georgia Student Finance Commission mails Renewal Applications directly to current recipients after Spring term.
Critical Shortage Fields:
The approved critical shortage fields may change each Spring, based on an annual survey of teaching vacancies in Georgia.
The following critical shortage fields were approved for the 2004-2005 academic year.
Business Education (Grades 7-12) Education of Exceptional Children (Grades
P-12): Behavior Disorders, Hearing Impaired, Interrelated Special Education, Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, Orthopedically Impaired English Education (Grades 7-12) Foreign Language Education (Grades P-12): French or Spanish Health Occupations (Grades 7-12) Mathematics Education (Grades 7-12) Middle Grades Education (Grades 4-8) with primary concentration in: Math, Science , or Math and Science Science Education (Grades 7-12): Broad Field Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth / Space, or Physics Trade and Industrial Education (Grades 7-12) Visually Impaired (Grades P-12)
Important Sources for Teaching Professionals:
For information on teaching certification requirements , you may contact the Georgia Professional Standards Commission toll-free at 1-800-869-7775 . In Metro Atlanta, call (404) 657-9000.
For employment opportunities, please contact Public School Recruitment Services at the Georgia Department of Education at (404) 656-4339 or visit their Web site at www.doe .k12.ga.us.

Georgia's HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program:
A History
Since the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program was established in July 1995,
10,154 Georgia educators have received more than $43 million to expand their teaching skills in critical shortage areas. Currently 1,913 recipients are repaying or have repaid their HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loans by teaching in Georgia classrooms. The HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loans for advanced education are funded entirely by the Georgia Lottery.
Andy Baumgartner was the 1999 National Teacher of the Year (TOTY) , the only Georgia Teacher of the Year to receive that honor. When he was named Georgia TOTY, Andy was a kindergarten teacher at Merry Elementary School, Richmond County Public Schools. Today he teaches kindergartners at Greenbriar Elementary School, Columbia County Public Schools.

Eligible Colleges & Universities:

You may participate in the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program at any ofthe public and private colleges or universities currently offering teacher preparation programs approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. These include:

Public:
Albany State University Armstrong Atlantic State
University Augusta State University Columbus State University Fort Valley State University Georgia College & State
University Georgia Southern
University Georgia Southwestern
State University Georgia State University Kennesaw State University North Georgia College &
State University

State University of West Georgia
University of Georgia Valdosta State University
Private:
Agnes Scott College Berry College Brenau University Clark Atlanta University Emory University LaGrange College Mercer University Oglethorpe University Piedmont College Toccoa Falls College Wesleyan College

Sonny Perdue, Governor

Georgia Student finance Commission
Loans Scholarships Grants
Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 240
Tucker, GA 30084
In Metro Atlanta: (770) 724-9000 Or Toll-Free in GA at: 1-800-505-4732
F or complete program eligibility requirements, and applications, visit our website at www.gsfc.org

Th e H OPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program is fun ded by the Georgia Lottery for Education. Program detai ls arc subject to change. Check with rhe Georgia Student Finance Commission each year fo r eligibili ty requirements.

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