Sec. 5.5. An applicant who is enrolled in a transition to teaching program after June 30, 2023, may qualify for a scholarship under section 8.5 of this chapter. To qualify for a scholarship, an applicant must:

(1) apply for a scholarship on a form supplied by the commission;

(2) possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited postsecondary four (4) year institution;

(3) have enrolled in a transition to teaching program described in IC 20-28-4;

(4) agree in writing to:

(A) complete a transition to teaching program described in IC 20-28-4 and obtain an initial practitioner license under IC 20-28; and

(B) teach for at least five (5) consecutive years in a public school or an eligible school (as defined in IC 20-51-1-4.7) in Indiana after obtaining the initial practitioner license under IC 20-28-4-6; and

(5) meet any other criteria established by the commission.

As added by P.L.242-2023, SEC.2.

   Sec. 5. (a) An applicant who is enrolled in an accredited postsecondary educational institution may qualify for a scholarship under this chapter. To qualify for a scholarship, an applicant must:

(1) apply for a scholarship on a form supplied by the commission;

(2) except as provided in subsection (b), have graduated from an Indiana nonaccredited nonpublic or state accredited high school accredited under IC 20-31-4.1 and:

(A) graduated in the highest twenty percent (20%) of students in the applicant’s high school graduating class;

(B) received a score in the top twentieth percentile on the SAT or ACT examination; or

(C) achieved a cumulative grade point average upon graduation of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale (or its equivalent if another grading scale is used) for courses taken during grades 9, 10, 11, and 12;

(3) have participated in school activities and community service activities during high school;

(4) have applied to and been accepted for enrollment in an accredited postsecondary educational institution approved by the commission under section 10 of this chapter;

(5) agree in writing to:

(A) obtain a license to teach under IC 20-28-5; and

(B) teach for at least five (5) consecutive years in a public school or an eligible school (as defined in IC 20-51-1-4.7) in Indiana after graduating with a baccalaureate degree from the accredited postsecondary educational institution described in subdivision (4);

(6) meet the definition of a minority under IC 21-13-1-6; and

(7) meet any other criteria established by the commission.

     (b) A student who graduates from a nonaccredited nonpublic school must meet the requirement described in subsection (a)(2)(B) in order to meet the eligibility requirement described in subsection (a)(2).

As added by P.L.161-2023, SEC.3.