SB 771 Summary

• Establishes the "Teacher Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Act" administered by the Department of Education to provide postgraduate scholarships to teachers in high-poverty schools.

• Eligible applicants must be full-time teachers at public schools where at least 50% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, enrolled or accepted into a master's degree or higher program at a Michigan college or university.

• Scholarship recipients may receive up to $1,000 per semester for eligible costs (tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, transportation) and must commit to 4 years of continuous teaching in the same school or school district.

• Recipients who fail to meet the 4-year employment commitment must repay all scholarship funds received plus interest and collection fees; repayment obligations may be reduced or forgiven for death, disability, layoff, or other good cause.

• Creates the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Fund within the state treasury to be funded by appropriations and scholarship repayments, with funds not lapsing at fiscal year end.