{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-290.01.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-290.01.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-290.01.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-290.01.html"}],"law_id":53979,"edition_id":1,"section_id":53979,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-290.01","catch_line":"Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program established; purpose; Board of Education to administer Program; eligibility requirements for scholarship and awards; collaboration and consultation with State Council of Higher Education; repayment of scholarship required","history":"2001, c. 660; 2002, c. 889; 2007, c. 31; 2008, cc. 48, 141; 2019, cc. 139, 796.","full_text":"A\n\nWith such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds that may be received on behalf of the Program by the Board of Education, there is hereby established the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program, hereinafter referred to as the “Program,” to: (i) increase the number of teacher candidates pursuing careers in critical teacher shortage areas as defined in the Board of Education’s Regulations Governing the Determination of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas; (ii) expand eligibility to teacher candidates, including graduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia school divisions who are enrolled full-time or part-time in an approved teacher education program; (iii) increase the diversity of persons pursuing careers in teaching, including male teacher candidates enrolled in an elementary or middle school education program and minority teacher candidates enrolled in any teaching endorsement area; and (iv) increase the number of teacher candidates pursuing careers in career and technical education.B\n\nThe Board of Education shall establish, in regulation, criteria for determining critical teacher shortage areas for awarding scholarships pursuant to this section. The criteria shall include such factors as the needs in teaching endorsement areas among the several school divisions of the Commonwealth, teacher shortages at the elementary and secondary grade levels, and teacher shortages in rural and urban regions of the Commonwealth.C\n\nThe Program shall be administered by the Board of Education. The Board may promulgate such regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of the Program. The Board shall consult with the State Council of Higher Education in the implementation of the Program.\n\t\t\tThe Program shall consist of scholarships awarded annually to teacher candidates, including graduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia school divisions at an accredited baccalaureate private institution of higher education in the Commonwealth or baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, who (i) are enrolled full-time or part-time in an approved teacher education program or are participants in another approved teacher education program; (ii) have maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; and (iii) are nominated for such scholarship by the institution where they are enrolled. In addition, the candidates must meet one or more of the following criteria: (a) be enrolled in a program leading to an endorsement in a critical shortage area as established by the Board of Education; (b) be a male teacher candidate in an elementary or middle school education program; (c) be a minority teacher candidate enrolled in any teacher endorsement area; or (d) be a student in an approved teacher education program leading to an endorsement in career and technical education.D\n\nBefore any teaching scholarship is awarded in accordance with the provisions of this section, the scholarship recipient shall sign a promissory note agreeing (i) to pursue an approved teacher education program full-time or part-time at an accredited baccalaureate private institution of higher education in the Commonwealth or baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth or another approved teacher education program and (ii) upon graduation, to begin teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth in a critical teaching shortage discipline or in a career and technical education discipline or, regardless of teaching discipline, in a school with a high concentration of students eligible for free or reduced lunch or in a rural or urban region of the Commonwealth with a teacher shortage.\n\t\t\tUpon program completion, the scholarship recipient shall begin teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth in the first full academic year after becoming eligible for a teaching license, and shall fulfill the teaching obligation in accordance with the promissory note by teaching continuously in Virginia for the same number of years that he was the beneficiary of such scholarship. Such scholarship recipient may fulfill the teaching obligation by accepting a teaching position (i) in one of the critical teacher shortage disciplines as established by the Board of Education; or (ii) in a career and technical education discipline; or (iii) regardless of teaching discipline, in a school with a high concentration of students eligible for free or reduced lunch; or (iv) in any discipline or at any grade level within a school division with a shortage of teachers, as defined in the Board of Education’s Regulations Governing the Determination of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas; or (v) in a rural or urban region of the state with a teacher shortage.E\n\nThe Board of Education may recover the total amount of funds awarded as a scholarship, or the appropriate proportion thereof, including any accrued interest, if the scholarship recipient fails to honor the teaching obligation.F\n\nThere is hereby created in the Department of the Treasury a special nonreverting fund known as the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Fund, hereinafter referred to as the “Fund.” The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller, and any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. The Fund shall consist of such moneys as may be appropriated for the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program and such gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds as may be received on its behalf by the Board of Education. The Fund shall be used solely to fund the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program. Interest earned on such moneys shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely to award scholarships pursuant to the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program as provided in this section. Disbursements from the Fund for such scholarships shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request of the President of the Board of Education.G\n\nThe Board of Education and the State Council of Higher Education shall make available to parents, students, teachers, high school counselors, and academic advisors and financial aid administrators at public and private institutions of higher education information concerning the Virginia Teacher Scholarship Loan Program, eligibility for the loans, and the terms and conditions under which such loans are awarded, in order that students interested in pursuing careers in the teaching profession may be advised of the availability of such financial assistance.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":198237,"text":"With such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds that may be received on behalf of the Program by the Board of Education, there is hereby established the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program, hereinafter referred to as the “Program,” to: (i) increase the number of teacher candidates pursuing careers in critical teacher shortage areas as defined in the Board of Education’s Regulations Governing the Determination of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas; (ii) expand eligibility to teacher candidates, including graduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia school divisions who are enrolled full-time or part-time in an approved teacher education program; (iii) increase the diversity of persons pursuing careers in teaching, including male teacher candidates enrolled in an elementary or middle school education program and minority teacher candidates enrolled in any teaching endorsement area; and (iv) increase the number of teacher candidates pursuing careers in career and technical education.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":198238,"text":"The Board of Education shall establish, in regulation, criteria for determining critical teacher shortage areas for awarding scholarships pursuant to this section. The criteria shall include such factors as the needs in teaching endorsement areas among the several school divisions of the Commonwealth, teacher shortages at the elementary and secondary grade levels, and teacher shortages in rural and urban regions of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":198239,"text":"The Program shall be administered by the Board of Education. The Board may promulgate such regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of the Program. The Board shall consult with the State Council of Higher Education in the implementation of the Program.\n\t\t\tThe Program shall consist of scholarships awarded annually to teacher candidates, including graduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia school divisions at an accredited baccalaureate private institution of higher education in the Commonwealth or baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, who (i) are enrolled full-time or part-time in an approved teacher education program or are participants in another approved teacher education program; (ii) have maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; and (iii) are nominated for such scholarship by the institution where they are enrolled. In addition, the candidates must meet one or more of the following criteria: (a) be enrolled in a program leading to an endorsement in a critical shortage area as established by the Board of Education; (b) be a male teacher candidate in an elementary or middle school education program; (c) be a minority teacher candidate enrolled in any teacher endorsement area; or (d) be a student in an approved teacher education program leading to an endorsement in career and technical education.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":198240,"text":"Before any teaching scholarship is awarded in accordance with the provisions of this section, the scholarship recipient shall sign a promissory note agreeing (i) to pursue an approved teacher education program full-time or part-time at an accredited baccalaureate private institution of higher education in the Commonwealth or baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth or another approved teacher education program and (ii) upon graduation, to begin teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth in a critical teaching shortage discipline or in a career and technical education discipline or, regardless of teaching discipline, in a school with a high concentration of students eligible for free or reduced lunch or in a rural or urban region of the Commonwealth with a teacher shortage.\n\t\t\tUpon program completion, the scholarship recipient shall begin teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth in the first full academic year after becoming eligible for a teaching license, and shall fulfill the teaching obligation in accordance with the promissory note by teaching continuously in Virginia for the same number of years that he was the beneficiary of such scholarship. Such scholarship recipient may fulfill the teaching obligation by accepting a teaching position (i) in one of the critical teacher shortage disciplines as established by the Board of Education; or (ii) in a career and technical education discipline; or (iii) regardless of teaching discipline, in a school with a high concentration of students eligible for free or reduced lunch; or (iv) in any discipline or at any grade level within a school division with a shortage of teachers, as defined in the Board of Education’s Regulations Governing the Determination of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas; or (v) in a rural or urban region of the state with a teacher shortage.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":198241,"text":"The Board of Education may recover the total amount of funds awarded as a scholarship, or the appropriate proportion thereof, including any accrued interest, if the scholarship recipient fails to honor the teaching obligation.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":198242,"text":"There is hereby created in the Department of the Treasury a special nonreverting fund known as the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Fund, hereinafter referred to as the “Fund.” The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller, and any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. The Fund shall consist of such moneys as may be appropriated for the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program and such gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds as may be received on its behalf by the Board of Education. The Fund shall be used solely to fund the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program. Interest earned on such moneys shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely to award scholarships pursuant to the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program as provided in this section. Disbursements from the Fund for such scholarships shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request of the President of the Board of Education.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":198243,"text":"The Board of Education and the State Council of Higher Education shall make available to parents, students, teachers, high school counselors, and academic advisors and financial aid administrators at public and private institutions of higher education information concerning the Virginia Teacher Scholarship Loan Program, eligibility for the loans, and the terms and conditions under which such loans are awarded, in order that students interested in pursuing careers in the teaching profession may be advised of the availability of such financial assistance.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12825,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12824,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":182873,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12825,"identifier":"1","token":"22.1\/15\/1","url":"\/22.1\/15\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12824,"edition_id":1,"name":"Teachers, Officers and Employees","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12823,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":182871,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12824,"identifier":"15","token":"22.1\/15","url":"\/22.1\/15\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12823,"edition_id":1,"name":"Education","identifier":"22.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":180949,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12823,"identifier":"22.1","token":"22.1","url":"\/22.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":73824,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-289.1","catch_line":"Teacher compensation; biennial review required","url":"\/22.1-289.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-289.1","metadata":false},{"id":58900,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-289.2","catch_line":"Compensation of public school employees called to active duty military service","url":"\/22.1-289.2\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-289.2","metadata":false},{"id":69931,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-289.3","catch_line":"Support services personnel; staffing and data collection requirements; report","url":"\/22.1-289.3\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-289.3","metadata":false},{"id":75427,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-290","catch_line":"Board authorized to award teaching scholarship loans","url":"\/22.1-290\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-290","metadata":false},{"id":53979,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-290.01","catch_line":"Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program established; purpose; Board of Education to administer Program; eligibility requirements for scholarship and awards; collaboration and consultation with State Council of Higher Education; repayment of scholarship required","url":"\/22.1-290.01\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-290.01","metadata":false},{"id":56916,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-290.02","catch_line":"Traineeships for education of special education personnel","url":"\/22.1-290.02\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-290.02","metadata":false},{"id":86673,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-290.1","catch_line":"Clinical faculty programs","url":"\/22.1-290.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-290.1","metadata":false},{"id":55830,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-290.2","catch_line":"Teacher, other instructional personnel, and support staff shortages; data","url":"\/22.1-290.2\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-290.2","metadata":false},{"id":61955,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-290.3","catch_line":"(Expires July 1, 2028) Teacher Reengagement Program","url":"\/22.1-290.3\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-290.3","metadata":false},{"id":70674,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-291","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-291\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-291","metadata":false},{"id":78791,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-291.1","catch_line":"Planning time for public elementary school teachers; data on lunch breaks","url":"\/22.1-291.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-291.1","metadata":false},{"id":62383,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-291.1:1","catch_line":"School counselors; staff time","url":"\/22.1-291.1_1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-291.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":69067,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-291.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-291.2\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-291.2","metadata":false},{"id":67549,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-291.3","catch_line":"Notice of duty to report child abuse or neglect","url":"\/22.1-291.3\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-291.3","metadata":false},{"id":55973,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-291.4","catch_line":"Bullying and abusive work environments prohibited","url":"\/22.1-291.4\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-291.4","metadata":false},{"id":70433,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-292","catch_line":"Penalties on officers and teachers","url":"\/22.1-292\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-292","metadata":false},{"id":69328,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-292.1","catch_line":"Violations related to secure mandatory tests","url":"\/22.1-292.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-292.1","metadata":false},{"id":65798,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-292.2","catch_line":"Suspension or revocation of license for procuring, selling, or administering anabolic steroids","url":"\/22.1-292.2\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-292.2","metadata":false},{"id":64265,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-292.3","catch_line":"License may not be suspended solely on the basis of default or delinquency in payment of federal-guaranteed or state-guaranteed education loan or scholarship","url":"\/22.1-292.3\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-292.3","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":75427,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-290","catch_line":"Board authorized to award teaching scholarship loans","url":"\/22.1-290\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-290","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":56916,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-290.02","catch_line":"Traineeships for education of special education personnel","url":"\/22.1-290.02\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-290.02","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-290.01\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2001. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 660<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2002, chapter 889<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 31<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 48<\/a> and 141<\/a>; in 2019, chapters 139<\/a> and 796<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":182891,"object_type":"law","relational_id":53979,"identifier":"22.1-290.01","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-290.01","url":"\/22.1-290.01\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-290.01\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-290.01","dublin_core":{"Title":"Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program established; purpose; Board of Education to administer Program; eligibility requirements for scholarship and awards; collaboration and consultation with State Council of Higher Education; repayment of scholarship required","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-290.01","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> With such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds that may be received on behalf of the Program by the Board<\/span> of Education, there is hereby established the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program, hereinafter referred to as the “Program,” to: (i) increase the number of teacher candidates pursuing careers in critical teacher shortage areas as defined in the Board<\/span> of Education’s Regulations Governing the Determination of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas; (ii) expand eligibility to teacher candidates, including graduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia school divisions who are enrolled full-time or part-time in an approved teacher education program; (iii) increase the diversity of persons pursuing careers in teaching, including male teacher candidates enrolled in an elementary<\/span> or middle school<\/span> education program and minority teacher candidates enrolled in any teaching endorsement area; and (iv) increase the number of teacher candidates pursuing careers in career and technical education. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Board<\/span> of Education shall establish, in regulation, criteria for determining critical teacher shortage areas for awarding scholarships pursuant to this section. The criteria shall include such factors as the needs in teaching endorsement areas among the several school divisions of the Commonwealth, teacher shortages at the elementary<\/span> and secondary grade levels, and teacher shortages in rural and urban regions of the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Program shall be administered by the Board<\/span> of Education. The Board<\/span> may promulgate such regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of the Program. The Board<\/span> shall consult with the State Council of Higher Education in the implementation of the Program.\n\t\t\tThe Program shall consist of scholarships awarded annually to teacher candidates, including graduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia school divisions at an accredited baccalaureate private institution of higher education in the Commonwealth or baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, who (i) are enrolled full-time or part-time in an approved teacher education program or are participants in another approved teacher education program; (ii) have maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; and (iii) are nominated for such scholarship by the institution where they are enrolled. In addition, the candidates must meet one or more of the following criteria: (a) be enrolled in a program leading to an endorsement in a critical shortage area as established by the Board<\/span> of Education; (b) be a male teacher candidate in an elementary<\/span> or middle school<\/span> education program; (c) be a minority teacher candidate enrolled in any teacher endorsement area; or (d) be a student in an approved teacher education program leading to an endorsement in career and technical education. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Before any teaching scholarship is awarded in accordance with the provisions of this section, the scholarship recipient shall sign a promissory note agreeing (i) to pursue an approved teacher education program full-time or part-time at an accredited baccalaureate private institution of higher education in the Commonwealth or baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth or another approved teacher education program and (ii) upon graduation, to begin teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth in a critical teaching shortage discipline or in a career and technical education discipline or, regardless of teaching discipline, in a school with a high concentration of students eligible for free or reduced lunch or in a rural or urban region of the Commonwealth with a teacher shortage.\n\t\t\tUpon program completion, the scholarship recipient shall begin teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth in the first full academic year after becoming eligible for a teaching license, and shall fulfill the teaching obligation in accordance with the promissory note by teaching continuously in Virginia for the same number of years that he was the beneficiary of such scholarship. Such scholarship recipient may fulfill the teaching obligation by accepting a teaching position (i) in one of the critical teacher shortage disciplines as established by the Board<\/span> of Education; or (ii) in a career and technical education discipline; or (iii) regardless of teaching discipline, in a school with a high concentration of students eligible for free or reduced lunch; or (iv) in any discipline or at any grade level within a school division with a shortage of teachers, as defined in the Board<\/span> of Education’s Regulations Governing the Determination of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas; or (v) in a rural or urban region of the state with a teacher shortage. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The Board<\/span> of Education may recover the total amount of funds awarded as a scholarship, or the appropriate proportion thereof, including any accrued interest, if the scholarship recipient fails to honor the teaching obligation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> There is hereby created in the Department<\/span> of the Treasury a special nonreverting fund known as the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Fund, hereinafter referred to as the “Fund.” The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller, and any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. The Fund shall consist of such moneys as may be appropriated for the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program and such gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds as may be received on its behalf by the Board<\/span> of Education. The Fund shall be used solely to fund the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program. Interest earned on such moneys shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely to award scholarships pursuant to the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program as provided in this section. Disbursements from the Fund for such scholarships shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request of the President of the Board<\/span> of Education. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> The Board<\/span> of Education and the State Council of Higher Education shall make available to parents<\/span><\/span>, students, teachers, high school counselors, and academic advisors and financial aid administrators at public and private institutions of higher education information concerning the Virginia Teacher Scholarship Loan Program, eligibility for the loans, and the terms and conditions under which such loans are awarded, in order<\/span> that students interested in pursuing careers in the teaching profession may be advised of the availability of such financial assistance. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVIRGINIA TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP LOAN PROGRAM ESTABLISHED; PURPOSE; BOARD OF\nEDUCATION TO ADMINISTER PROGRAM; ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND\nAWARDS; COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION WITH STATE COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION;\nREPAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP REQUIRED (\u00a7 22.1-290.01)\n\nA. With such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose and any gifts,\ndonations, grants, bequests, and other funds that may be received on behalf of\nthe Program by the Board of Education, there is hereby established the Virginia\nTeaching Scholarship Loan Program, hereinafter referred to as the\n“Program,” to: (i) increase the number of teacher candidates\npursuing careers in critical teacher shortage areas as defined in the Board of\nEducation’s Regulations Governing the Determination of Critical Teacher\nShortage Areas; (ii) expand eligibility to teacher candidates, including\ngraduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia school divisions who are\nenrolled full-time or part-time in an approved teacher education program; (iii)\nincrease the diversity of persons pursuing careers in teaching, including male\nteacher candidates enrolled in an elementary or middle school education program\nand minority teacher candidates enrolled in any teaching endorsement area; and\n(iv) increase the number of teacher candidates pursuing careers in career and\ntechnical education.\n\nB. The Board of Education shall establish, in regulation, criteria for\ndetermining critical teacher shortage areas for awarding scholarships pursuant\nto this section. The criteria shall include such factors as the needs in\nteaching endorsement areas among the several school divisions of the\nCommonwealth, teacher shortages at the elementary and secondary grade levels,\nand teacher shortages in rural and urban regions of the Commonwealth.\n\nC. The Program shall be administered by the Board of Education. The Board may\npromulgate such regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of the\nProgram. The Board shall consult with the State Council of Higher Education in\nthe implementation of the Program.\n\t\t\tThe Program shall consist of scholarships awarded annually to teacher\ncandidates, including graduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia\nschool divisions at an accredited baccalaureate private institution of higher\neducation in the Commonwealth or baccalaureate public institution of higher\neducation in the Commonwealth, who (i) are enrolled full-time or part-time in an\napproved teacher education program or are participants in another approved\nteacher education program; (ii) have maintained a cumulative grade point average\nof at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; and (iii) are nominated for\nsuch scholarship by the institution where they are enrolled. In addition, the\ncandidates must meet one or more of the following criteria: (a) be enrolled in a\nprogram leading to an endorsement in a critical shortage area as established by\nthe Board of Education; (b) be a male teacher candidate in an elementary or\nmiddle school education program; (c) be a minority teacher candidate enrolled in\nany teacher endorsement area; or (d) be a student in an approved teacher\neducation program leading to an endorsement in career and technical education.\n\nD. Before any teaching scholarship is awarded in accordance with the provisions\nof this section, the scholarship recipient shall sign a promissory note agreeing\n(i) to pursue an approved teacher education program full-time or part-time at an\naccredited baccalaureate private institution of higher education in the\nCommonwealth or baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the\nCommonwealth or another approved teacher education program and (ii) upon\ngraduation, to begin teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth in a\ncritical teaching shortage discipline or in a career and technical education\ndiscipline or, regardless of teaching discipline, in a school with a high\nconcentration of students eligible for free or reduced lunch or in a rural or\nurban region of the Commonwealth with a teacher shortage.\n\t\t\tUpon program completion, the scholarship recipient shall begin teaching in\nthe public schools of the Commonwealth in the first full academic year after\nbecoming eligible for a teaching license, and shall fulfill the teaching\nobligation in accordance with the promissory note by teaching continuously in\nVirginia for the same number of years that he was the beneficiary of such\nscholarship. Such scholarship recipient may fulfill the teaching obligation by\naccepting a teaching position (i) in one of the critical teacher shortage\ndisciplines as established by the Board of Education; or (ii) in a career and\ntechnical education discipline; or (iii) regardless of teaching discipline, in a\nschool with a high concentration of students eligible for free or reduced lunch;\nor (iv) in any discipline or at any grade level within a school division with a\nshortage of teachers, as defined in the Board of Education’s Regulations\nGoverning the Determination of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas; or (v) in a\nrural or urban region of the state with a teacher shortage.\n\nE. The Board of Education may recover the total amount of funds awarded as a\nscholarship, or the appropriate proportion thereof, including any accrued\ninterest, if the scholarship recipient fails to honor the teaching obligation.\n\nF. There is hereby created in the Department of the Treasury a special\nnonreverting fund known as the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Fund,\nhereinafter referred to as the “Fund.” The Fund shall be established\non the books of the Comptroller, and any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end\nof the biennium shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the\nFund. The Fund shall consist of such moneys as may be appropriated for the\nVirginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program and such gifts, donations, grants,\nbequests, and other funds as may be received on its behalf by the Board of\nEducation. The Fund shall be used solely to fund the Virginia Teaching\nScholarship Loan Program. Interest earned on such moneys shall remain in the\nFund and be credited to it. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely to award\nscholarships pursuant to the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program as\nprovided in this section. Disbursements from the Fund for such scholarships\nshall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon\nwritten request of the President of the Board of Education.\n\nG. The Board of Education and the State Council of Higher Education shall make\navailable to parents, students, teachers, high school counselors, and academic\nadvisors and financial aid administrators at public and private institutions of\nhigher education information concerning the Virginia Teacher Scholarship Loan\nProgram, eligibility for the loans, and the terms and conditions under which\nsuch loans are awarded, in order that students interested in pursuing careers in\nthe teaching profession may be advised of the availability of such financial\nassistance.\n\nHISTORY: 2001, c. 660; 2002, c. 889; 2007, c. 31; 2008, cc. 48, 141; 2019, cc.\n139, 796.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}