HB 1237 Summary

• Authorizes the commission for higher education to enter into an academy agreement with one state educational institution to establish and operate a teacher academy.

• Requires the commission to issue a request for proposals to all state educational institutions, with evaluation criteria including estimated annual costs to establish and operate the academy and tuition and fee costs.

• Establishes a teacher academy grant program providing grants to eligible applicants for tuition and fees, with recipients agreeing to teach in Indiana public schools for at least four (4) consecutive years after graduation or repay the grant.

• Creates the teacher academy fund financed by general assembly appropriations and gifts to support establishment and operation costs of the academy and award teacher academy grants.

• Sets enrollment limits of no more than 100 new students per school year and 400 total students at any given time, with academy agreements not exceeding two (2) years in original term.