Financial Aid Division

State Teacher Assistance Resource (STAR) Program

Date Updated: December 4, 2007

State Teacher Assistance Resource (STAR) offers forgivable loans OR loan repayment grants to current or future educators teaching in a subject and/or geographic shortage area in an Arkansas public school. STAR Loans are for future teachers seeking an education degree leading to an initial licensure. STAR Repayment Grants are for current teachers who did not receive a STAR Loan.

STAR Forgivable Loan for Future Teachers

The Arkansas State Teacher Assistance Resource (STAR) provides forgivable loans to students pursuing an education degree leading to an initial teacher licensure. Recipients must teach in designated subject and/or geographical critical shortage areas in Arkansas public schools after completion of licensure requirements.

A student may be eligible for a STAR Forgivable Loan for a maximum of 2 years (if in a 4-year program) or 3 years (if in a 5-year program) or until licensure requirements are completed, whichever comes first. STAR funds are paid to the recipient’s college or university for each term awarded.

The recipient is eligible for a maximum of $6000 per year by committing to teach in an Arkansas public school located in a geographical area designated as having a critical shortage of teachers AND in a subject matter area designated as having a critical shortage of teachers.

The recipient is eligible for a maximum of $3000 per year by committing to teach in an Arkansas public school located in a geographical area designated as having a critical shortage of teachers OR in a subject matter area designated as having a critical shortage of teachers.

To be eligible for a STAR Forgivable Loan, the applicant must apply by June 1, submit official college transcripts, and:

• Be a citizen of the United States or permanent resident alien
• Be an Arkansas resident for at least six (6) months prior to the application deadline
• Have at least a 2.75 cumulative grade point average
  Have at least thirty (30) semester credit hours
• Pursue an education degree leading to an initial teacher licensure and meet at least one of the following criteria:
  
  
  • Admitted to an Associate of Arts in Teaching program
  • Admitted to a 4-or-5 year teacher education program
  • Admitted to a Master of Arts in Teaching program
  • Passed Praxis 1 AND declared education as a major
• Be enrolled in twelve (12) hours per semester if an undergraduate student or nine (9) hours per semester if a graduate student
• Commit to teaching in a subject and/or geographical shortage area in an Arkansas public school one year for each year of STAR funds received after completion of education degree

For continued eligibility, the recipient must complete a new STAR application and:

• Complete 24 semester credit hours per academic year if an undergraduate student, OR complete 18 semester credit hours per academic year if a graduate student
• Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale

The STAR Forgivable Loan must be repaid if the recipient does not enroll as a full time college student, fails to complete an approved teacher licensure program, or does not fulfill the required teaching obligation. STAR does not guarantee recipient’s employment.

STAR Forgivable Loan recipients are not eligible for STAR Repayment Grants. 

STAR Repayment Grant for Current Teachers

The first priority of the Arkansas State Teacher Assistance Resource (STAR) is funding for future teachers seeking an education degree leading to an initial teacher licensure. If funds remain after future teachers are awarded, current teachers may receive grants to assist in repaying federal student loans. Applicants must be Arkansas teachers who graduated from a teacher education program after April 1, 2004. STAR funds are paid to the recipient’s federal student loan lender and are applied to the principal balance.

Teachers may receive up to $6000 per year for teaching in both an Arkansas public school located in a geographical area designated as having a critical shortage of teachers AND in a subject matter area designated as having a critical shortage of teachers.

Teachers may receive up to $3000 per year for teaching in either an Arkansas public school located in a geographical area designated as having a critical shortage of teachers OR in a subject matter area designated as having a critical shortage of teachers.

To be eligible for a STAR Repayment Grant, the applicant must apply by June 1 and:

• Be a citizen of the United States or permanent resident alien
• Be an Arkansas resident for at least six (6) months prior to the application deadline
• Have graduated from a teacher education program after April 1, 2004
• Teach full time in a subject and/or geographical shortage area in an Arkansas public school
• Submit current employment contract, most recent loan statement, and official transcript indicating education degree and graduation date

Priority for STAR Repayment grants is as follows:

• First priority is Arkansas teachers teaching in both subject and geographical shortage areas
• Second priority is Arkansas teachers teaching in subject shortage areas
• Third priority is Arkansas teachers teaching in geographical shortage areas

Teachers may receive a STAR Repayment Grant for a maximum of three (3) years.

Teachers who received STAR Forgivable Loans as students are NOT eligible for STAR Repayment Grants.

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