Bill may loan $12K to future teachers

Education students at state universities may soon find a new incentive to lend their skills to struggling inner-city schools.

A bill recently introduced in the State Senate promises up to $12,000 in loans over four years to college students pursuing a career in education. In exchange, students would be required to agree to teach at an "at-risk" school for at least four years.

The bill relies on the State School Aid Act of 1979 to define "at risk" schools. The definition includes many criteria, among them the combined local and state revenue per pupil, whether the school is eligible for free lunch, milk or breakfast programs and the schools' average scores on standardized tests.

The Future Teachers Program loan will encourage prospective teachers to work in districts they would not normally consider, said a spokesperson for Sen. Glenn Steil (R-Grand Rapids), the legislator who drafted the bill.

"If you put them in (inner-city) schools, they will learn for themselves the rewards of teaching in these schools," Murray said.

Interim Dean of Education Karen Wixson said this program will help in ways that other programs have not.

"I'm really glad the legislature is recognizing the needs in this area," Wixson said, adding that charter schools and the encouragement of privatization "are not working as well and are disincentives.

"This is a nice alternative," she said. "I see it as moving in a positive direction."

The bill requests that the state Department of Education develop the specific way in which money will be paid back and how long after graduation students can defer payments

Education Studies chair Virginia Richardson said if the repayment system was fair it could aid students in many ways.

"If it were a good situation, with maybe $1000 paid off every year, or no interest, it would draw people in and get them involved," Richardson said.

One advantage of the loan program is that it may counter financial issues facing students that sometimes discourage them from becoming teachers, Richardson said.

"There are a lot of people who have education in their heart, but maybe they have been advised ... that they should not go into education," she said. "Maybe this would push them over that barrier."

But Richardson cautioned that the prospect of such a sizable loan might attract students for the wrong reasons.

"It would draw people into education who might not otherwise come in," she said. "The question is whether it would draw people who would be good teachers."

School of Education Academic Program Director Henry Mears said the school's recruiting efforts, which are mainly targeted at College of Literature, Sciences and the Arts students, would see an increase in interest due to the legislation.

"I certainly wouldn't argue against it," he said.

02-12-99