House Bill 504 amends Tennessee Code Annotated to establish a pilot program for the Tennessee Future Teacher scholarship, aimed at encouraging students to pursue careers in education. The bill defines "eligible candidates" as students enrolled in approved educator preparation programs (EPP) during their junior or senior years or as post-baccalaureate students seeking an initial educator license. To qualify for the scholarship, candidates must be U.S. citizens who have resided in Tennessee for at least one year, complete a scholarship application, and sign a promissory note agreeing to teach in a local education agency (LEA) or public charter school for at least two consecutive years in a targeted setting.

The bill also specifies that the scholarship amount is set at $5,000 per academic year for students enrolled in an approved EPP, with provisions for reimbursement if the recipient fails to fulfill the teaching commitment. Additionally, the Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) is tasked with studying the effectiveness of the scholarship program in increasing the number of licensed educators in Tennessee, with reports due at specified intervals. The program is set to begin in the 2023-2024 academic year and will terminate on July 1, 2030, with the act taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-4-701(b)(2), 49-4-701, 49-4-701(b), 49-4-701(c), 49-4-701(d), 49-4-701(f)(2), 49-4-701(h), 49-4-701(i), 49-4-701(k)