A-591 (Voss / Malone)

Establishes a loan redemption program to encourage teachers to enter the Technology Education field.

Summary - This bill establishes the Technology Education Teacher Loan Redemption program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). A participant in the program would redeem 20% of their eligible student loan expenses for each year they work as a certified technology education teacher in a New Jersey public school.
To be eligible for the program, each participant must be:
1) hired to teach technology education in a New Jersey public school;
2) possess a technology education endorsement to their teaching certificate;
3) execute a contract with HESAA;
4) be a resident of New Jersey
The program is a contract with HESAA for five one-year periods and would specify the total amount of debt to be redeemed by the sTate in return for the service.

Position - The NJTC SUPPORTS this legislation. The number of applicants for advertised technology teacher positions has been dropping and school districts have been discontinuing technology programs when their certified technology education teachers retire. New Jersey needs to do all it can to encourage potential teachers to enter the technology education discipline and this legislation is a start. Technology Education classes get students motivated and excited to use math and science applications, and get them to critically think and problem solve.