161.415. Minority teaching scholarships--amount--qualifications--matching funds--renewability.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

161.415. Minority teaching scholarships--amount--qualifications--matching funds--renewability.

Minority teaching scholarships--amount--qualifications--matchingfunds--renewability.

161.415. 1. Within the limits of amounts appropriated therefor, thedepartment of elementary and secondary education shall make available up toone hundred one-year, renewable scholarships in an amount of two thousanddollars to minority students for the purpose of encouraging minoritystudents to enter teaching. Such scholarships shall be available tominority high school graduates and college students who are residents ofMissouri, and who enter and make a commitment to pursue a teacher educationprogram approved by the department of elementary and secondary educationand offered by a four-year college or university located in Missouri, orwho after the completion of their baccalaureate degree enter teachereducation and make a commitment to teach science or mathematics, and whohave:

(1) Achieved scores on an accepted standardized test of academicability, including, but not limited to, the SAT, ACT, SCAT, which placethem at or above the seventy-fifth percentile; and

(2) A high school rank at or above the seventy-fifth percentile.

2. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of scholarships orrevenues available, the department of elementary and secondary educationmay consider the financial needs of the applicant.

3. Any college or university located in Missouri which offers ateacher education program approved by the department of elementary andsecondary education, and wishes to have the scholarships provided pursuantto this section made available to eligible applicants for admittance tosuch college or university, must provide matching funds to match one dollarfor every two dollars made available by the state pursuant to this sectionfor students attending the college or university. Such matching fundsshall not be taken from money made available to the college or universityfrom state funds. The total scholarship available to any one student fromstate and from college and university sources pursuant to such matchprogram shall be three thousand dollars per year.

4. A recipient shall be eligible for a renewed scholarship for amaximum of three additional years. Eligibility for renewed scholarshipsshall be based on criteria established by the colleges of education and thedepartment of elementary and secondary education.

5. As used in this section the term "minority" includes AsianAmericans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and African Americans.

6. The scholarships provided in subsection 1 of this section shall beavailable to otherwise eligible students who are currently enrolled in acommunity college and make a commitment to pursue a teacher educationprogram approved by the department of elementary and secondary educationand offered by a four-year college or university located in Missouri.