Sec. 56.505.  CONTINUING STUDENT ELIGIBILITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS.  (a)  After initially qualifying for a scholarship under this subchapter, a person may continue to receive a scholarship under the scholarship program during each semester or term in which the person is enrolled at an eligible institution only if the person:
(1)  demonstrates a continued commitment to pursuing a career as a classroom teacher:
(A)  in a teaching field identified by the commissioner of education as experiencing a critical shortage of teachers in this state; or
(B)  in a public school in this state in which a majority of students enrolled are educationally disadvantaged;
(2)  remains enrolled full-time in an eligible institution;
(3)  remains enrolled in or is on track to be admitted to an eligible educator preparation program, as verified by the eligible institution in which the person is enrolled;
(4)  makes satisfactory academic progress toward completion of a baccalaureate or master's degree and approval to take a teacher certification exam, as verified by the eligible institution; and
(5)  complies with any other academic or nonacademic requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this subchapter.
(b)  A person is not eligible to continue to receive a scholarship under the scholarship program if the person has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense described by Section 56.504(b).
(c)  If a person fails to meet any of the requirements of Subsection (a) after the completion of any semester or term, the person may not receive a scholarship under this subchapter during the next semester or term in which the person enrolls.  A person may become eligible to receive a scholarship under this subchapter in a subsequent semester or term if the person:
(1)  completes a semester or term during which the person is not eligible for a scholarship; and
(2)  meets all the requirements of Subsection (a).
(d)  For the purpose of this section, a person makes satisfactory academic progress toward a baccalaureate or master's degree only if:
(1)  in the person's first academic year the person meets the satisfactory academic progress requirements of the eligible institution in which the person is enrolled; and
(2)  in a subsequent academic year, the person:
(A)  completes at least 75 percent of the semester credit hours attempted in the person's most recent academic year; and
(B)  has earned an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on coursework previously attempted at an eligible institution.
(e)  A person who is eligible to receive a scholarship under this subchapter continues to remain eligible to receive the scholarship if the person enrolls in or transfers to an eligible educator preparation program at another eligible institution.
(f)  The coordinating board shall adopt rules to allow a person who is otherwise eligible to receive a scholarship under this subchapter, in the event of a hardship or for other good cause shown, including a showing of a severe illness or other debilitating condition that may affect the person's academic performance or that the person is responsible for the care of a sick, injured, or needy person and that the person's provision of care may affect the person's academic performance, to receive a scholarship under this subchapter:
(1)  while enrolled in a number of semester credit hours that is less than the number required to be enrolled full-time; or
(2)  if the person's grade point average or completion rate falls below the satisfactory academic progress requirements of Subsection (d).
(g)  A person's eligibility for a scholarship under this subchapter ends on the earlier of:
(1)  the fourth anniversary of the initial award of a scholarship under this subchapter to the person and the person's enrollment in an eligible institution; or
(2)  the person's completion of the baccalaureate or master's degree program described by Section 56.504(a)(3).
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 877 (H.B. 4363), Sec. 1, eff. June 13, 2023.