HB272 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Terri CollinsRepresentative
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP), renamed the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program; providing loan assistance in acute educator shortage programs as determined by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the State Department of Education
Summary: HB272 renames AMSTEP to the LASEA Program and expands teacher loan assistance to include acute educator shortage programs, with extra payments for shortage locations and oversight by ACHE with input from the SDE; it also repeals a related alternative-certification reimbursement provision and takes effect August 1, 2025.
What This Bill Does
The Alabama Commission on Higher Education will administer the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) and, with the State Department of Education, identify which programs and schools have acute shortages. Eligibility is broadened to include educators certified in acute shortage programs and employed in public K-12 schools or designated shortage locations, with two annual disbursements and a four-year limit. The program provides base and supplemental loan repayments with specific amounts for math, science, and computer science teachers, and allows charter school teachers to participate for base payments but not the shortage-area supplement; funding is non-reverting and subject to appropriation. The bill also repeals an existing alternative-certification reimbursement provision and becomes effective August 1, 2025.

Who It Affects
Public K-12 math, science, and computer science teachers in Alabama who complete an approved shortage-area program and are employed in an acute shortage location (they may qualify for base and, if eligible, supplemental loan repayment).
Educators employed by charter schools (they may participate in the program for base payments, but are not eligible for the shortage-area supplemental payments).

Key Provisions
Renames the Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP) to the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program and designates ACHE to administer it.
Expands eligibility to include educators certified in programs identified as having acute educator shortages and employed in public K-12 schools or shortage locations; ACHE, in consultation with SDE, determines which programs, schools, and systems have shortages.
Defines key terms (acute educator shortage, acute shortage location, approved institution, base and supplemental support, etc.) and clarifies the role of ACHE and SDE in administering and designating shortages.
Provides two levels of payments: base and supplemental; base payments are up to $3,750 per semester for math/science teachers and $1,500 per semester for computer science teachers (up to four years); supplemental payments may add to base for those in shortage locations with additional amounts (details specify amounts and eligibility).
Allows charter school teachers to participate but restricts shortage-area supplemental payments for those teachers.
Establishes funding rules (non-reverting funds, subject to appropriation) and discharge/disbursement schedule (two payments per year, after Jan 1 and after Jun 1).
Requires annual reapplication and ongoing employment in shortage designations; recipients must notify the commission of status changes within 30 days, or risk affecting eligibility.
Repeals Section 16-5-54.2, which provided reimbursement for certain alternative certification programs.
Adds specific provisions for eligibility and payments related to federal student loans (pre- and post-2022 terms) and provides additional supplements for teachers in acute shortage locations, including math/science and computer science, with ongoing eligibility tied to teaching in shortage areas.
Effective date: August 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Education