FL S0688

Establishes the Teacher Scholarship Program within the Department of Education to encourage academically excellent students to pursue careers in education through scholarships and stipends.

Undergraduate eligibility requires full-time enrollment in an approved teacher preparation program, general state financial aid eligibility, SAT score at 80th percentile (or concordant ACT), and minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA.

Graduate eligibility requires a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, full-time enrollment in a master's, specialist, or doctoral teacher education program, and no prior teaching certificate or undergraduate scholarship under this program.

Undergraduate students may receive up to $5,000 per semester ($10,000 annually) for 2 years or 3 years for 5-year certification programs; graduate students may receive the same amount for up to 2 years.

Recipients completing their program and first year of employment as a public school classroom teacher receive a one-time $10,000 stipend, with prorated amounts for late hires; implementation contingent on legislative appropriations.