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HB 1517

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 15-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of the North Dakota student teacher scholarship program; and to provide an appropriation.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Brad Bekkedahl and 6 co-sponsors

Creates a North Dakota student teacher scholarship program awarding up to $3,000 per eligible student to reduce student-teaching costs.

Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 22 nays 67
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Bill Summary · HB 1517

HB 1517 — North Dakota Student Teacher Scholarship Program (summary)

Status: Introduced; Second reading — failed to pass (Second reading failed 22 yeas, 67 nays on 2025-02-11).
Introduced: December 4, 2024. Sponsors: Reps. Jonas, Murphy, Richter, Sanford, Hager; Sens. Bekkedahl, Boschee. (Committee amendments adopted in Education Committee; first engrossment prepared.)

Purpose / Intent

Create a statewide scholarship program to reduce the tuition/fee burden on student teachers completing the required student‑teaching semester in North Dakota and encourage completion of state‑approved teacher preparation programs.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the "North Dakota student teacher scholarship program" and directs the State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) to develop and administer it.
  • SBHE duties:
    • Develop and administer the program;
    • Distribute scholarship funds to each institution or program with a physical presence in North Dakota that offers a state‑approved teacher preparation program; and
    • Provide guidance and assistance to those institutions/programs in administering scholarships.
  • Scholarship amount:
    • Institutions shall apply a scholarship not exceeding $3,000 to an eligible student’s tuition and fees for the semester in which the student completes the student teaching experience.
  • Eligibility (student):
    • Enrolled in a North Dakota state‑approved teacher preparation (educator preparation) program and completing the student‑teaching experience in North Dakota;
    • Progressing satisfactorily through the program as determined by the state‑approved program;
    • Does not hold an initial teaching license or an alternate access teaching license issued by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board.
  • Appropriation:
    • $4,200,000 appropriated from the general fund to SBHE to provide funds to institutions for awarding scholarships for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: eligible student teachers completing in‑state student teaching.
  • Administrators: institutions of higher education and state‑approved educator preparation programs (must apply scholarships to tuition/fees).
  • State agencies: SBHE (program administration) and budget/finance offices (appropriation management).

Fiscal and implementation notes

  • Appropriation: $4.2 million for FY2026–FY2027 biennium. At the per‑student cap of $3,000, funds could cover up to ~1,400 scholarship awards if fully expended (4,200,000 ÷ 3,000).
  • Program distribution method: funds distributed to eligible institutions/programs; statutory text does not specify allocation formula or per‑institution caps—those implementation details would be set by SBHE guidance/rules.
  • Procedural/timeline: bill contains appropriation tied to July 1, 2025–June 30, 2027. Current legislative status: failed on second reading; would need to be reconsidered/reintroduced to become law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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