In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Eligible institution” means a: Public senior higher education institution in the State that possesses a certificate of approval from the Commission and has a department, school, or college of education; or Private nonprofit institution of higher education in the State that possesses a certificate of approval from the Commission, has a department, school, or college of education, and agrees to provide a matching grant to an undergraduate or graduate student, as appropriate, who receives a Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship in the lesser of: 100% of the annual cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus; or 50% of the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the private nonprofit institution of higher education. “Service obligation” means to teach full time in the State as a teacher in a Maryland public school or a public prekindergarten program: That is in a high–needs school, as identified by the Department; or In a grade level or content area in which there is a shortage of qualified educators, as identified by the Department. “Service obligation” does not mean employment as teaching assistants, volunteer service, paid fellowships, or internships.

There is a program of Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarships that are awarded under this subtitle for students who pledge to work as public school or public prekindergarten teachers in the State upon completion of their studies at: A high–needs school, as identified by the Department; or In a grade level or content area in which there is a shortage of qualified educators, as identified by the Department. Each year the Department shall submit to the Office a list of: High–needs schools in which there are a significant proportion of: Teacher vacancies; and Teachers teaching in a grade level or content area other than the grade level or content area in which they are certificated; and Grade levels and content areas in which there are a significant proportion of: Teacher vacancies; and Teachers teaching in a grade level or content area other than the grade level or content area in which they are certificated.

The Office shall annually select eligible students and offer a scholarship to each student selected to be used at an eligible institution of their choice. Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a recipient of the Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship shall: Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, be accepted for admission or currently enrolled at an eligible institution as a full–time or part–time undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a course of study or program in an academic discipline leading to a Maryland professional teacher’s certificate; Continue to make satisfactory progress toward a degree and maintain the standards of the institution; Sign a letter of intent to perform the service obligation upon completion of the recipient’s required studies; Accept any other conditions attached to the award; and Satisfy any additional criteria the Commission may establish. Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, an individual who, at the time the individual is scheduled to matriculate at an eligible institution, will have been employed as a teaching assistant at a public school or public prekindergarten program in the State for at least 2 years: May apply for a Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship under this subtitle; and Is eligible to hold a Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship as a full–time or part–time undergraduate or graduate student. A recipient of the Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship may be an individual who is enrolled or plans to enroll at an eligible institution as a full–time or part–time undergraduate or graduate student who: Changes majors to pursue a course of study or program in an academic discipline leading to a Maryland professional teacher’s certificate; or Seeks to change careers to pursue a course of study or program in an academic discipline leading to a Maryland professional teacher’s certificate. In selecting awardees for a Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship, the Office shall give preference to applicants, including those applying under paragraph (2) of this subsection, who have been employed in a public school or a publicly funded prekindergarten program within the last 5 years. A recipient of the Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship may not hold a Maryland professional teacher’s certificate. Applicants who are secondary school students shall provide a high school transcript after completion of the first semester of their senior year. Applicants who are currently enrolled in an eligible institution shall provide the most recent college transcript, or if not applicable, the applicant may submit a final high school transcript. Applicants who are not currently enrolled in an eligible institution, but who are high school graduates, shall provide a final high school transcript. Applicants who are high school graduates and are not currently enrolled in an eligible institution, but have completed some courses at an eligible institution, shall provide the most recent college transcript. Applicants who are not currently enrolled in an eligible institution, but who are college graduates, shall provide a final college transcript.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the recipient of a Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship shall repay the Commission the funds received as set forth in § 18–112 of this title if the recipient does not: Satisfy the degree requirements of the eligible course of study or program or fulfill other requirements as provided in this subtitle; Perform the service obligation to teach in a public school or a public prekindergarten program in a high–needs school, as identified by the Department, or in a grade level or content area in which there is a shortage of qualified educators, as identified by the Department, for a period of at least 2 years; and Become professionally certified to teach in the State of Maryland within the time period specified by the Commission in consultation with the Department. If a recipient is unable to perform the service obligation required under this subtitle because there are no available positions in a qualifying school, grade level, or content area, the recipient may work in any public school or public prekindergarten program in the State. If a recipient performs the service obligation by teaching at a school, grade level, or content area previously identified as high–needs that is no longer identified as high–needs, the recipient may continue to teach in that school, grade level, or content area without being required to repay the funds received under this subtitle. The Office shall forgive a recipient of a Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship for 2 years of an award if: The recipient has taken the teacher certification examination, approved by the State Board of Education, in 2 consecutive years; and The recipient fails to pass the teacher certification examination within the time period specified by the Commission in accordance with subsection (a)(3) of this section; or The recipient provides to the Office satisfactory evidence of extenuating circumstances that prevent the recipient from becoming professionally certified to teach in the State.

The annual scholarship award shall be: At a public senior higher education institution in the State that has a department, school, or college of education, 100% of the equivalent annual tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate, at the public senior higher education institution; or Subject to subsection (b) of this section, at a private nonprofit institution of higher education in the State that has a department, school, or college of education, an amount equal to: The lesser of: 100% of the equivalent annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate, at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus; or 50% of the equivalent annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate or graduate student, as appropriate, at the eligible private nonprofit institution of higher education; and 100% of the room and board of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate, at the eligible private nonprofit institution of higher education in the State. A private nonprofit institution of higher education shall provide a matching scholarship award in an amount equal to the award calculated in subsection (a)(2)(i) of this section.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, each recipient of a Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship may renew the award three times if the recipient: Continues to be a full–time or part–time undergraduate or graduate student at an eligible institution as determined by the Office; and Continues to make satisfactory progress toward a degree and maintains the standards of the institution. Each recipient of the Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship may renew the annual award four times if the recipient is enrolled in a course of study that, as determined by the institution, requires 5 years to complete.

A Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship may be used for tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board at any eligible institution.

If an eligible institution has enrolled at least 15 recipients of a Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship, the eligible institution shall develop and implement an enriched honors program of education that is responsive to exceptional dedication and merit–based accomplishment in the study of education and preparation for the teaching profession.

The Governor annually shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least the following amounts for the Commission to award scholarships under this subtitle: For fiscal year 2022, $4,000,000; For fiscal year 2023, $8,000,000; For fiscal year 2024, $12,000,000; and For fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, $18,000,000.

The Office, in collaboration with the Department, shall publicize the availability of Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarships. The Office shall focus on publicizing the availability of the Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarships: At historically Black colleges and universities in the State; To teaching assistants and other educational support staff currently working in public schools and publicly funded prekindergarten programs; and In a manner that promotes the program to students who are members of groups that are underrepresented in the teaching profession. To the extent practicable, the Office shall award scholarships under this subtitle in a manner that reflects ethnic, gender, racial, and geographic diversity.