KRS § 164.773 Student Teacher Stipend Program -- Definitions -- Procedures -- Reporting requirements.

164.773 Student Teacher Stipend Program -- Definitions -- Procedures -- Reporting requirements. (1) The General Assembly hereby establishes the Student Teacher Stipend Program to reduce financial barriers to students in completing educator preparation programs and entering the educator workforce. (2) As used in this section: (a) "Academic term" means a fall or spring academic semester; (b) "Approved educator preparation program" means a program approved by the Education Professional Standards Board for the preparation of teachers and other professional school personnel; (c) "Authority" means the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority; (d) "Eligible student" means a student who: 1. Is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; 2. Is a Kentucky resident as determined by the authority; 3. Is enrolled in an approved educator preparation program at a participating institution; 4. Is approved for student teaching by the participating institution; 5. Is student teaching at a Kentucky public school or nonpublic school certified by the Kentucky Board of Education under KRS 156.160, except as provided in subsection (7) of this section; 6. Has not previously received a student teacher stipend under this section; and 7. Meets any other criteria established in administrative regulation promulgated by the authority; (e) "Participating institution" means an institution of higher education located in Kentucky that offers an approved educator preparation program and executes an agreement with the authority on terms the authority deems necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Student Teacher Stipend Program; and (f) "Student teacher" has the same meaning as in KRS 161.010. (3) The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority shall administer the Student Teacher Stipend Program and shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A as may be needed for administration of the program. (4) (a) Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, to the extent funds are available, the authority may award a student teacher stipend of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) to an eligible student during the academic term in which the student is a student teacher. (b) If funds are not sufficient to award stipends to all eligible students, awards shall be determined in accordance with administrative regulations promulgated by the authority. (5) For each academic term, by the deadline established by the authority, a participating institution shall submit to the authority a report of all eligible students for that academic term. The authority shall disburse stipend funds to eligible students directly or through the participating institution, in accordance with the distribution process determined by the authority. (6) The participating institution shall notify the authority within five (5) days of the withdrawal of a previously eligible student from the program and no additional distributions shall be made to or on behalf of the student. (7) The authority may establish criteria for approving a student teacher stipend for a student who is student teaching outside of Kentucky but is otherwise an eligible student under subsection (2)(d) of this section. (8) Funds awarded to an eligible student under this section shall not be considered student financial aid in the year the funds are received. (9) By November 1, 2025, and each November 1 thereafter, the authority shall submit a report to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Education on the utilization and effectiveness of the Student Teacher Stipend Program. The Kentucky Center for Statistics shall assist in developing the report which shall include but not be limited to: (a) The total number of eligible students and stipend recipients, and the total award amount by participating institution and program; (b) The demographic data of stipend recipients, including but not limited to: 1. School district of high school graduation; 2. County and city of residence prior to postsecondary enrollment; 3. The participating institution in which the eligible student is enrolled while a student teacher; and 4. The school and district in which the eligible student is a student teacher; and (c) The data correlation between stipend recipients and nonrecipients entering and remaining in the educator workforce, including but not limited to student teaching location and teaching position location. Effective: June 27, 2025 History: Amended 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 43, sec. 1, effective June 27, 2025. -- Created 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 139, sec. 2, effective April 9, 2024.