Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Conditional scholarship" means a loan that is forgiven in whole or in part if the recipient renders service as a teacher in an approved education program in this state.

     (2) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a college or university in the state of Washington that is accredited by an accrediting association recognized as such by rule of the higher education coordinating board.

     (3) "Board" means the higher education coordinating board.

     (4) "Eligible student" means a student who is registered for at least six credit hours or the equivalent, demonstrates high academic achievement, is a resident student as defined by RCW 28B.15.012 and 28B.15.013, and has a declared intention to complete an approved preparation program leading to initial teacher certification or required for earning an additional endorsement, and commits to teaching service in the state of Washington.

     (5) "Public school" means an elementary school, a middle school, junior high school, or high school within the public school system referred to in Article IX of the state Constitution.

     (6) "Forgiven" or "to forgive" or "forgiveness" means to render service as a teacher in an approved education program in the state of Washington in lieu of monetary repayment.

     (7) "Satisfied" means paid-in-full.

     (8) "Participant" means an eligible student who has received a conditional scholarship or loan repayment under this chapter.

     (9) "Loan repayment" means a federal student loan that is repaid in whole or in part if the recipient renders service as a teacher in an approved education program in Washington state.

     (10) "Approved education program" means an education program in the state of Washington for knowledge and skills generally learned in preschool through twelfth grade. Approved education programs may include but are not limited to:

     (a) K-12 schools under Title 28A RCW; or

     (b) Other K-12 educational sites in the state of Washington as designated by the board.

     (11) "Equalization fee" means the additional amount added to the principal of a loan under this chapter to equate the debt to that which the student would have incurred if the loan had been received through the federal subsidized Stafford student loan program.

     (12) "Teacher shortage area" means a shortage of elementary or secondary school teachers in a specific subject area, discipline, classification, or geographic area as defined by the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

[2004 c 58 § 2; 1996 c 53 § 1; 1993 sp.s. c 18 § 36; 1987 c 437 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Effective date -- 1996 c 53: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996." [1996 c 53 § 3.]

     Effective date -- 1993 sp.s. c 18: See note following RCW 28B.12.060.