The HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan for Graduate Study in Critical Shortage Fields - If you love teaching and want to earn an advanced degree, or if you have an undergraduate degree and would like to become a teacher, Georgia's HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program may be able to help you pay for your education. The HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program - a component of the lottery-funded HOPE Program - provides forgivable loans to individuals seeking advanced education degrees in critical shortage fields of study. You simply repay your loan by teaching in a Georgia public school after earning your advanced degree, saving you money and helping fill the need for qualified professionals in these teaching fields. It's a program that benefits Georgia teachers and every student in their classrooms.

Eligible Recipients - The HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan Program assists a broad range of individuals, including:

Eligibility Requirements - A student must:

• Be a legal resident of Georgia; and
• Be admitted for regular admission into a graduate school and into an advanced degree teacher education program leading to certification in a critical shortage field. Students whose admission status is provisional are not eligible.

Note: If you are not eligible for HOPE and you are an in-service teacher, you may wish to contact your local staff development coordinator to learn about coursework eligible for funding through your school system.

Critical Shortage Fields - The approved critical shortage fields may change each Spring, based on an annual survey of teaching vacancies in Georgia.

The following critical shortage fields were approved for the 2005-2006 academic year. Teaching fields may be added or removed for the 2006-2007 academic year in May 2006

Scholarship Amount Maximum awards are based on the number of credit hours necessary for students to complete their program of study. Scholarship funds can be used toward any part of the student's cost of attendance. Students who attend an eligible public university receive $125 per semester hour. At an eligible private college or university, students can receive $200 per semester hour or quarter hour equivalent. Scholarship funds can be used toward any part of the student's cost of attendance.

Application Process - Applicants must complete their part of the application and obtain signatures from the institution's College of Education teacher certification official and the financial aid office. The completed application is then forwarded directly to the HOPE Scholarship Program for consideration.

Approximately 1,200 scholarships are awarded each academic year on a first-come, first-served basis. Scholarship funds are provided directly to the school's financial aid office and will be disbursed on a term-by-term basis.

Loan Forgiveness- Recipients of the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan are granted a grace period of one year after completing their approved program. After the grace period, recipients are obligated to teach in their critical shortage field of study in a Georgia public school at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level one academic year for each $2,500 awarded through the scholarship, with a maximum of four years to repay.

For example, if you receive a total of $5,000 (40 semester hours x $125) to complete your advanced degree and teach two years after graduation in a Georgia public school at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level, your loan will be completely forgiven.

If the teaching/service obligation cannot be met, any outstanding loan amounts, plus interest, must be repaid to the State of Georgia.

Note: Once you have fulfilled your loan obligation, you may reapply for the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan if you continue to meet eligibility requirements.

Eligible Colleges and Universities- You may participate in the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Program at any of the public and private colleges or universities currently offering teacher preparation programs approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. These include:

Renewal Applicants- If you are currently receiving the HOPE Teacher Scholarship Loan, you must complete a Renewal Application each academic year.