HB 5958 Summary

• Establishes the "Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathways Grant Act" to provide financial aid to educational paraprofessionals (teacher aides and instructional assistants) pursuing degrees in teaching-related fields.

• Creates a dual-pathway grant program: Pathway I grants for associate degrees at community colleges and Pathway II grants for baccalaureate degrees at public universities, administered by the Department of Education.

• Pathway I eligibility requires 3 years of continuous full-time or 5 years of part-time employment as an educational paraprofessional, a high school diploma or equivalency, and no prior associate or baccalaureate degree.

• Pathway II eligibility requires an associate degree or 2+ years of college credit in education, 1-5 years of paraprofessional employment (depending on circumstances), and a letter of employment endorsement from a school district.

• Grant recipients must sign repayment agreements requiring them to complete their degree within 2 years of average program completion time and maintain full-time employment in education for 3 years (Pathway I) or 5 years (Pathway II) or repay all grant funds.