HI SB440

Establishes the Future Career and Technical Education Teacher Scholarship Program administered by the Department of Education to recruit and retain career and technical education teachers in Hawaii public schools.

Eligible applicants must be enrolled at a University of Hawaii campus, qualify for Hawaii resident tuition, and be enrolled in a state-approved teacher education program.

Scholarship recipients must obtain a teaching license from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board and teach career and technical education in Hawaii public schools for at least five years after completing their teacher education program.

Scholarship recipients who fail to complete the teacher education program or do not fulfill the five-year teaching requirement must repay a proportional percentage of scholarship funds received, with the Department establishing terms for repayment, deferment, and forgiveness due to hardship.

Appropriates funds from general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 for program administration, with the exact amount left blank in the bill text.