§9305. Stipend and bonus for participants
(a) Stipend authorized
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the administering Secretary shall pay to each participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program a stipend in an amount equal to $5,000.
(2) The total number of stipends that may be paid under paragraph (1) in any fiscal year may not exceed 3,000.
(b) Bonus authorized
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the administering Secretary may, in lieu of paying a stipend under subsection (a) of this section, pay a bonus of $10,000 to each participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program who agrees under section 9304(e) of this title to accept full-time employment as an elementary or secondary school teacher or vocational or technical teacher for not less than four years in a high need school.
(2) The total number of bonuses that may be paid under paragraph (1) in any fiscal year may not exceed 1,000.
(3) In this subsection, the term "high need school" means an elementary school or secondary school that meets one or more of the following criteria:
(A) The school has a drop out rate that exceeds the national average school drop out rate.
(B) The school has a large percentage of students (as determined by the Secretary of Education in consultation with the National Assessment Governing Board) who speak English as a second language.
(C) The school has a large percentage of students (as so determined) who are at risk of educational failure by reason of limited proficiency in English, poverty, race, geographic location, or economic circumstances.
(D) At least one-half of the students of the school are from families with an income below the poverty line (as that term is defined by the Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with section 9902(2) of title 42) applicable to a family of the size involved.
(E) The school has a large percentage of students (as so determined) who qualify for assistance under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.).
(F) The school meets any other criteria established by the administering Secretary in consultation with the National Assessment Governing Board.
(c) Treatment of stipend and bonus
Stipends and bonuses paid under this section shall be taken into account in determining the eligibility of the participant concerned for Federal student financial assistance provided under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq. [and 42 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.]).
(d) Reimbursement under certain circumstances
(1) If a participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program fails to obtain teacher certification or licensure or employment as an elementary or secondary school teacher or vocational or technical teacher as required by the agreement under section 9304(e) of this title or voluntarily leaves, or is terminated for cause, from the employment during the four years of required service in violation of the agreement, the participant shall be required to reimburse the administering Secretary for any stipend paid to the participant under subsection (a) of this section in an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of the stipend as the unserved portion of required service bears to the four years of required service.
(2) If a participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program who is paid a bonus under subsection (b) of this section fails to obtain employment for which the bonus was paid as required by the agreement under section 9304(e) of this title, or voluntarily leaves or is terminated for cause from the employment during the four years of required service in violation of the agreement, the participant shall be required to reimburse the administering Secretary for any bonus paid to the participant under that subsection in an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of the bonus as the unserved portion of required service bears to the four years of required service.
(3) The obligation to reimburse the administering Secretary under this subsection is, for all purposes, a debt owing the United States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11, shall not release a participant from the obligation to reimburse the administering Secretary.
(4) Any amount owed by a participant under this subsection shall bear interest at the rate equal to the highest rate being paid by the United States on the day on which the reimbursement is determined to be due for securities having maturities of ninety days or less and shall accrue from the day on which the participant is first notified of the amount due.
(e) Exceptions to reimbursement requirement
A participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program shall be excused from reimbursement under subsection (d) of this section if the participant becomes permanently totally disabled as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician. The administering Secretary may also waive reimbursement in cases of extreme hardship to the participant, as determined by the administering Secretary.
(f) Relationship to educational assistance under Montgomery GI Bill
The receipt by a participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program of any assistance under the program shall not reduce or otherwise affect the entitlement of the participant to any benefits under chapter 30 of title 38 or chapter 1606 of title 10.
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References in Text
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(E), is title VI of
The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (c), is
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 9304, 9308 of this title.