{"data":{"id":"us-az/a.r.s.-15-240","jurisdiction":"us-az","citation":"A.R.S. § 15-240","heading":"High-quality teacher professional development program; annual report; definitions","body":"A. The department of education shall establish a high-quality teacher professional development program and, subject to available appropriations, may issue scholarships or grants, or both, on a competitive basis as determined by the department, to qualified applicants in order to obtain high-quality teacher professional development from a qualifying postsecondary institution that will support certificated teachers in gaining additional credentials and certifications to teach in high-need content areas. Scholarships and grants issued pursuant to this subsection may not exceed $2,000 per qualified applicant. Any qualified applicant who receives a scholarship or grant pursuant to this subsection shall agree to teach in a public school in this state for at least three additional years after completing the coursework or program at a qualifying postsecondary institution. A qualified applicant who accepts a scholarship or grant pursuant to this subsection and who does not teach in a public school in this state for at least three additional years after completing the coursework or program at a qualifying postsecondary institution shall pay back the full amount of the scholarship or grant in a manner to be determined by the department. The department may retain up to three percent of the monies appropriated for the program to offset administrative costs.\n\nB. On or before November 1 of each year, the department of education shall submit to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives a report that summarizes the results of the program. The department shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.\n\nC. For the purposes of this section:\n\n1. \"High-need content area\" means any science, technology, engineering or mathematics or career and technical education content.\n\n2. \"Qualified applicant\" means a teacher who is certificated in this state by the state board of education pursuant to section 15-203 and who is currently teaching in a public school in this state.\n\n3. \"Qualifying postsecondary institution\" means a regionally or nationally accredited public or private postsecondary educational institution in this state.","path":["Title 15 Education"],"source_url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/15/00240.htm","current_through":"2026-09-04","vintage":"2026-08-09","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T00:49:56Z","sha256":"8535ebd390960a4e8fcdd3dd6d1cbb3c966d3a1c8f8cbd42a90729452befe29e","source_id":"us-az","stale":true,"prev":"us-az/a.r.s.-15-239","next":"us-az/a.r.s.-15-241"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}