Financial Aid Division
State Teacher Education Program
Date Updated: December 31, 2009
General Information
The State Teacher Education Program (STEP) provides assistance for eligible teachers with repayment of outstanding federal student loans. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) shall administer the State Teacher Education Program (STEP) within the policies set by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The State Teacher Education Program recipients may receive:
- Loan repayment for federal student loans in the amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000) per year for each year a certified teacher t in a public school located in a geographical area of the state designated as having a critical shortage of teachers OR in a subject matter area designated as having a critical shortage of teachers.
- Loan repayment for federal student loans in the amount of six thousand dollars ($6,000) per year for each year a certified teacher who teaches in a public school located in a geographical area of the state designated as having a critical shortage of teachers AND in a subject matter designated as having a critical shortage of teachers.
- Loan repayment for federal student loans in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year for each year a certified minority teacher who teaches in a public school located in Arkansas.
Total term of federal student loan repayment shall not exceed three years.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be bona fide Arkansas residents, as defined by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, for at least twelve (12) months prior to the application deadline.
- Applicants must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien.
- Applicant must have graduated from a teacher education program after April 2004.
- Applicant must have outstanding federal student loans.
- Applicant must hold a valid Arkansas teacher’s license.
- Applicants must teach full-time at a public school district in Arkansas during the award year
In addition to the above, applicants must meet one of the additional criteria:
- Teach in a subject area with a teacher shortage, as identified by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in consultation with the Arkansas Department of Education; or
- Teach in a geographic area with a teacher shortage, as identified by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in consultation with the Arkansas Department of Education; or
- Be African American, Hispanic, Asian-American or Native American.
Continued Eligibility
STEP recipient must re-apply each year and meet all eligibility requirements each year . Total term of federal student loan repayment shall not exceed three years.
Application Deadline
June 1st each application year.
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