8VAC20-650-30. Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program requirements and selection procedures.

A. Annually, the teacher preparation institutions in Virginia that have approved teacher preparation programs shall be invited to nominate individuals to receive loans through the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program subject to available appropriations.

B. The Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program shall consist of scholarships awarded annually to teacher candidates, including graduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia school divisions at a regionally accredited public or private four-year institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, who (i) are enrolled full time or part time in an approved teacher education program or are participants in another approved teacher education program; (ii) have maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; and (iii) are nominated for such scholarship by the institution where they are enrolled. In addition, the candidates must meet one or more of the following criteria: (a) be enrolled in a program leading to an endorsement in a critical shortage area as established by the Board of Education; (b) be a male teacher candidate in an elementary or middle school education program; or (c) be a minority teacher candidate enrolled in any teacher endorsement area. ; or (d) be a student in an approved teacher education program leading to an endorsement in career and technical education.

C. A selection panel appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction may be convened if the number of Teacher Education Program recommendations for scholarships exceed the appropriations. The panel shall select recipients for the teaching scholarship loan from the eligible applicants. Efforts should be made to have an appropriate distribution of scholarships among the identified critical teacher shortage areas.