CT SB00221

Expands the aspiring educators scholarship program eligibility from students who graduated from alliance district high schools to all Connecticut public high school graduates enrolled in teacher preparation programs at four-year institutions

Redefines "aspiring educator" to mean individuals pursuing teaching in shortage areas identified by the Commissioner of Education, replacing the previous "diverse student" eligibility criteria

Scholarships of up to $10,000 annually available for students in good standing in teacher preparation programs

Requires scholarship repayment if recipients do not become certified teachers employed by Connecticut school boards or fail to teach in committed subject or geographic shortage areas

Expands the Commissioner of Education's annual teacher shortage identification to include subject areas, geographic areas, and underrepresented population subgroups in the teaching profession, effective July 1, 2026