It is the purpose of this chapter to provide for the establishment of a statewide program for the recruiting and training of certain professional educators who will serve the pupils in the public elementary and secondary schools of the State in critical curricular areas. The responsibilities for identifying those critical areas are assigned to the Department of Education with approval of the State Board and for the administration of the program are assigned to the Department of Education.

64 Del. Laws, c. 341, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 180, §  56; 

The Department of Education may authorize, from the amount appropriated in the Budget Appropriation Bill for the purpose of enhancing professional development, an amount to be allocated for the purpose of establishing and maintaining programs to strengthen programs in those areas which the Department of Education with the approval of the State Board of Education designates as critical curriculum areas.

64 Del. Laws, c. 341, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 84, §  205;  71 Del. Laws, c. 180, §  57; 

The Department of Education with approval of the State Board of Education shall, from time to time, adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as will be necessary for the implementation of the programs authorized by this chapter.

64 Del. Laws, c. 341, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 180, §  58; 

The Department of Education with State Board approval may provide an ongoing program specifically designed to meet certification requirements for a teacher in the State in a critical curricular area and may include, but not be limited to, reimbursement for tuition, programs, textbooks or travel. The part-time program may be offered during the regular school year. The Department of Education with State Board approval shall provide rules and regulations for the conduct of the program.

64 Del. Laws, c. 341, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 84, §§  206, 207;  71 Del. Laws, c. 180, §  59; 

The Department of Education with State Board approval may provide for a summer program for Delaware teachers who are available to teach but who do not hold school certification in a critical curricular area. The Department of Education with State Board approval shall establish rules and regulations for the conduct of this program.

64 Del. Laws, c. 341, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 84, §  208;  71 Del. Laws, c. 180, §  59; 

The Department of Education with State Board approval may provide a Teacher Scholarship Loan Program. This Program shall be designed to help a teacher obtain certification in Delaware in a critical curriculum area by attending an institution of higher education on a full-time basis. The Department of Education with State Board approval shall establish rules and regulations for the conduct of this Program that shall include at least the following:

(1) Candidates selected must have taught in a Delaware public elementary or secondary school for at least 1 year prior to the year in which the scholarship is to be used.

(2) A teacher participating in this Loan Program shall execute a promissory note, in the amount of the loan, to the State Treasurer. This note shall be forgiven at a rate of 1/3 of the loan for each of 3 years of teaching in a Delaware public school after completion of the study authorized. In any year that the teacher fails to meet the teaching obligation, the loan shall be due and payable for the unpaid balance.

(3) Such loan shall be interest free to persons who meet the teaching obligation.

(4) Necessary repayment procedures and interest requirements for persons who do not teach, or do not complete their teacher obligation as provided in paragraph (2) of this section, shall be established by the Department of Education with State Board approval.

(5) A teacher to whom a loan is granted shall also be paid during the year of study 1 year’s salary and benefits based upon the prescribed state salary schedule for 185 teaching days as found in Chapter 13 of this title. A teacher to whom such a loan is granted may be granted a leave of absence by a school district upon agreement that the teacher will return to that district for assignment upon completion of the year of study. In the case of such leave of absence, nothing herein contained shall prevent the school district from providing local salary supplement and other district benefits.

(6) The amount of the loan will be determined by the Department of Education with State Board approval and may be applied to the cost of tuition, books and supplies for instruction at the institution in which the teacher is to be enrolled.

64 Del. Laws, c. 341, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 84, §  209;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 180, §  59; 

The Department of Education with State Board approval may provide a program of training for persons who can present graduate or undergraduate degrees at or above the level of bachelor and who are interested in teaching in a field that has been declared a critical curricular area, but who lack the certificate requirements for teaching in that field. Such a program shall include reimbursement for tuition for any necessary training to obtain certification as determined by the Department of Education with State Board approval.

64 Del. Laws, c. 341, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 84, §  209;  71 Del. Laws, c. 180, §  59; 

(a) The Department of Education with State Board approval may provide a Student Loan Program and shall make rules and regulations for the conduct of this Program to include at least the following:

(1) The candidate for a loan must have been admitted to an accredited institution of higher learning in a program that will result in training and certification in Delaware as a teacher in a critical curricular area designated by the Department of Education with State Board approval;

(2) The recipient of any such loan shall execute a promissory note in the amount of the loan to the State Treasurer;

(3) The loan will be forgiven on the basis of 2 years of teaching as a certified teacher in an actual critical curricular area in a Delaware public elementary or secondary school for each year of college training;

(4) Such loan shall be interest free to persons who meet the teaching obligation;

(5) Necessary replacement procedures and interest requirements for persons who do not teach or fulfill the teaching obligation as provided in paragraph (a)(3) of this section shall be established by the Department of Education with State Board approval;

(6) The loan may be renewed from year to year through a 4-year training program, based upon the criteria adopted by the Department of Education with State Board approval;

(7) A student selected for such a program may attend any accredited college or university in the United States where the appropriate training will result in certification as a teacher in this State.

(b) A loan made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may be forgiven by the Secretary of Education if the Secretary determines that the recipient is unable to meet that recipient’s repayment obligation because of total and permanent disability or death. The Secretary may require such documents as the Secretary considers necessary to verify a claim of disability or death, including but not limited to a sworn affidavit from a qualified physician or a death certificate. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this chapter, the Department of Education may promulgate rules and regulations to implement this subsection.

64 Del. Laws, c. 341, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 84, §  209;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 180, §  59;  74 Del. Laws, c. 97, §  1;