NC S400

Expands the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program to allow students pursuing any area of teaching licensure (not just STEM or special education) to be eligible for forgivable loans of up to $4,125 per semester.

Broadens participating institutions to include all community colleges and all University of North Carolina constituent institutions with approved educator preparation programs, rather than limiting to five specific community colleges.

Requires students receiving forgivable loans for more than four semesters to use the initial loans at a community college to earn transferable credits before completing their educator preparation program at a four-year institution.

Maintains loan forgiveness terms allowing recipients to have loans forgiven by serving 1-2 years (depending on school performance level) as a public school teacher in their licensure area within 10 years of graduation.

Becomes effective July 1, 2019, and applies to forgivable loans awarded beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year.