Moed initiative to keep state’s best students in Indiana gains approval from the House

STATEHOUSE – Members of the Indiana House of Representatives today adopted legislation containing a proposal by State Rep. Justin Moed (D-Indianapolis) aimed at keeping the state’s best and brightest students in Indiana after they graduate from college.

Senate Bill 330 includes provisions authored by Moed aimed at attracting qualified individuals to teach the most critical subjects in public schools by providing student loan reimbursements of up to $9,000 to recent college graduates who meet certain standards.

“By offering to help repay their student loans, we aim to attract college graduates from the top 20 percent of their graduating classes to teach the most-needed subject areas in classrooms at schools where there is a critical shortage of teachers,” said Moed.

The language authored by Moed provides that if a graduate commits to teach in STEM areas (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) or special education, or if they commit to teaching in a school that has a serious shortfall of instructors, they will qualify for the $9,000 loan repayment at the end of their third year in the classroom.

The bill stipulates that in order to qualify for state-granted loan repayment, students must have graduated in the top 20 percent of their high school class or the top 20 percent of the ACT or SAT scores, and continued to score high marks by graduating college with at least a 3.5 grade point average.

“This legislation provides answers to two of the greatest problems facing our state,” said Moed. “It provides the means for our most capable young Hoosiers to earn a living here in Indiana, and it ensures that we will have a new group of fresh young minds to serve as an example in our schools for the next generation.”

Senate Bill 330 now returns to the Senate for concurrence with the changes made in the House.