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HB 288

Alabama Commission on Higher Education; authorized to award loan assistance to athletic trainers under Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Arnold Mooney

Alabama expands its teacher loan assistance program to include athletic trainers, allowing the higher education commission to award educational loans to healthcare professionals in exchange for state employment commitments.

Enacted
#education
0
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Bill Summary · HB 288

Legislative bill overview

HB 288 expands the Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program to include loan assistance eligibility for athletic trainers, not just math and science teachers. The bill authorizes the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to distribute these educational loan funds to athletic training professionals who commit to working in the state.

Why is this important

Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals critical to school and sports operations, but the state had not previously offered loan assistance programs to encourage their education and retention. This expansion addresses potential workforce shortages in athletic training while using an existing, established loan assistance infrastructure rather than creating a new program from scratch.

Potential points of contention

  • Program mission creep: The original program targeted math and science teachers—fields with documented shortages. Extending it to athletic trainers shifts resources and may dilute the program's core mission without clear evidence of athletic trainer workforce shortages in Alabama.
  • Funding implications: The bill doesn't specify whether this expansion receives new funding or reallocates existing loan assistance money, potentially reducing awards available for math and science teachers.
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill doesn't clearly define eligibility requirements, loan amounts, service obligations, or how many athletic trainers will receive assistance, leaving implementation details uncertain.

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

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