Expanded loan forgiveness plan helps schools

A loan forgiveness program that helps Arizona schools attract math, science and special education teachers should be broadened to help rural and inner-city schools attract teachers with any specialization, a state lawmaker contends.

"Some districts are experiencing across-the-board shortages that aren't just math and science teachers," said Rep. David Schapira, D-Tempe.

He has introduced legislation to expand a law that forgives the student loans of teachers who commit to staying in Arizona to teach math, science or special education in public schools. HB 2293 would apply to teachers with any specialization who commit to work in a geographic area deemed by the state to have a serious teacher shortage.

Schapira cited Yuma, Payson and American Indian reservations as areas that would benefit from the change.

The House Education Committee approved the bill unanimously this week, sending it to the Appropriations Committee.

Jan Amator, deputy associate superintendent of highly qualified professionals at the Arizona Department of Education, told the committee that expanding the program would help even with many districts reducing staffs due to the tough economy.

"It's a good program," Amator said. "Anything that helps young teachers pay off school loans is a good program and a good incentive to spread young teachers where they are needed most."

The program, which took effect in 2008, costs the state about $265,000 per semester. It's open to Arizona residents attending a public university. The Arizona Board of Regents awards places on a first-come, first-served basis.

Since its inception, 143 people have taken advantage of the program, 60 of them focusing on special education, 58 math and 25 science.

The state forgives one year's worth of in-state tuition, instructional materials and mandatory fees for each year a participant teaches in Arizona, and participants have to teach one extra year to repay the obligation.

Pat Koury, superintendent of the Hyder School District and president of the Arizona Rural School Association, said in a telephone interview that the bill is something every rural school district should support.

"When you get out in the rural areas where I am, there are teacher shortages in every area, not just math and science," Koury said. "We need English teachers, too."

Koury said that attracting young teachers is no easy task when he has to compete with urban areas.

"Young people don't want to come out and live in the middle of nowhere," he said.

Casey O'Brien, superintendent of the Payson Unified School District, said the change would help his schools, though he said districts in rural and urban areas won't be hiring as many people until the economy improves.

"In principle, it's a good program, and in the past we have had some trouble with teacher shortages," O'Brien said. "Right now, we're doing all right though; we're fully staffed, and depending on what happens with the budget we probably won't be able to hire new teachers."

Darwin Stiffler, superintendent of the Yuma Elementary School District, said the change would help - someday.

"In a normal year, this would be a great benefit to our district but because of the budget situation," he said. "This is not a normal year."

Just the facts

The Mathematics, Science and Special Education Teacher Student Loan Program, which took effect in 2008, is available to Arizona residents who attend one of state's three public universities. At present, participants must agree to provide instruction in math, science or special education at a public school in Arizona.

It offers loans that defray the costs of in-state tuition, instructional materials and mandatory fees. Recipients must repay the loan by teaching one year for each year of assistance received, plus an additional year. Those who fail to meet the teaching requirement must repay the loan.