New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 8 - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT › Chapter XX - Higher Education Services Corporation › Subchapter C - General Awards, Academic Performance Awards, Fellowships and Other Awards › Part 2201 - General Eligibility Criteria › Section 2201.21 - The New York State Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a) Definitions. For purposes of this section
				  and Education Law, section
				  679-j, the following definitions shall
				  apply:
(1) "Award" shall mean a New York
				  State Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program award pursuant to section 679-j of the
				  New York State Education Law.
(2)
				  "Corporation" shall mean the New York State Higher Education Services
				  Corporation.
(3) "Department" shall
				  mean the New York State Education Department.
(4) "Economically disadvantaged" shall mean
				  applicants whose household adjusted gross income is at or below 250 percent of
				  the federal poverty level for the most recent calendar year
				  available.
(5) "Elementary and
				  secondary school" shall mean pre-kindergarten through grade 12 in a public or
				  private school recognized by the board of regents of the university of the
				  state of New York, including charter schools authorized pursuant to article 56
				  of the Education Law and programs provided by Boards of Cooperative Educational
				  Services (BOCES) on behalf of such schools.
(6) "Full time" shall mean employment as a
				  teacher in an elementary or secondary school in New York State for at least 10
				  continuous months, each school year, for a number of hours to be determined by
				  either the school district, school board or school, the by-laws thereof, the
				  labor contract between the teacher and employer, or if none of the above apply,
				  the chief administrator of the school, except for an allowable interruption of
				  full time employment.
(7)
				  "Interruption of full time employment" shall mean an allowable temporary leave
				  for a definitive length of time due to circumstances approved by the
				  corporation, including, but not limited to, parental leave, medical leave,
				  death of a family member, or military duty that exceeds forty-two calendar
				  days, excluding legal holidays, regardless of whether such absence or leave is
				  paid or unpaid.
(8) "Household
				  adjusted gross income" shall mean the federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for
				  individuals or married couples filing jointly, or the aggregate AGI of married
				  couples filing separately, reduced by a cost of living allowance, which shall
				  be equal to the applicant's eligible New York State standard deductions plus
				  their eligible New York State dependent exemptions for personal income tax
				  purposes.
(9) "Outstanding student
				  loan debt" shall mean the total cumulative student loan balance required to be
				  paid by the applicant at the time of selection for an award under this program,
				  including the outstanding principal and any accrued interest covering the cost
				  of attendance to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or
				  university. Such outstanding student loan debt may be reduced as provided in
				  subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of this
				  section.
(10) "Program" shall mean
				  the New York State Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.
(11) "School year" shall mean the period
				  commencing on the first day of July in each year and ending on the 30th day of
				  June next following.
(12) "Teacher"
				  shall mean a New York State certified teacher providing instruction in an
				  elementary or secondary school including enrichment and supplemental
				  instruction that may be offered to a subset of students as well as support
				  services such as counseling, speech and occupational therapy
				  services.