Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (T-STEM) Centers
Open-enrollment charter schools in Texas, with at least 40% of the students in the free or reduced lunch program, are encouraged to apply for a T-STEM Centers grant under RFA #701-06-010 to design and implement a T-STEM Center. A total of approximately $4.6 million is available for funding the grant. Prospective applicants are requested to submit the Notice of Intent to Apply (NOI) by March 21, 2006, specified in Application Guidelines-Part 2: Program Guidelines located at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/opge/disc/TSTEM-RFA-07/STEM_CtrPart2.pdf.

The purpose of the grant is to support the T-STEM Academies by designing innovative science, technology, engineering, and math curricula, delivering teacher professional development, and creating strategic partnerships among businesses, higher education entities, and school districts to support the effective implementation of the T-STEM Initiative. The T-STEM Centers will ensure national best practices are utilized in Texas and will identify and document best practices at a local and state level. As programs prove effective, the Centers will broadly disseminate information on T-STEM programs to teachers, schools, education service centers, district leadership, and other key partners across Texas.

The T-STEM Centers grant will be implemented during the 2006-2007 school year. Applicants should plan for a starting date of no earlier than August 1, 2006, and an ending date of no later than May 31, 2008. For more information visit http://www.tea.state.tx.us/opge/disc/ or contact Karen Harmon, Discretionary Grants Division, Texas Education Agency, 512-463-9269.

Student Loan Forgiveness and Cancellation Opportunities for Teachers
Every year TEA produces a list of subject-matter teacher shortage areas and a list of designated low-income schools that are submitted to the USDOE. Eligible teachers with certain types of student loans may qualify for partial loan forgiveness, deferment, or cancellation benefits. Eligibility requirements can be found on the Quick Reference Chart and 7-page Fact Sheet at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/eddev/loanforgiv/. Designated low-income schools are those with greater than 30% of enrolled students from low-income families, in districts that are eligible for Title I funds. The following are the Texas designated subject-matter teacher shortage areas for the 2004-2005 school year: