20-4-503. Critical quality educator shortages. (1) The board of public education, in consultation with the office of public instruction, shall identify:

(a) specific schools that are impacted by critical quality educator shortages; and

(b) within the schools identified in subsection (1)(a), the specific quality educator licensure or endorsement areas that are impacted by critical quality educator shortages.

(2) In identifying impacted schools under subsection (1)(a), the board of public education, in consultation with the office of public instruction, shall consider including the following:

(a) special education cooperatives;

(b) the Montana school for the deaf and blind, as described in 20-8-101;

(c) the Montana youth challenge program, as established in 10-1-1401;

(d) state youth correctional facilities, as defined in 41-5-103;

(e) public schools that are located on an American Indian reservation; and

(f) public schools that, driving at a reasonable speed for the road surface, are located:

(i) more than 45 minutes from a city with a population greater than 10,000 based on the most recent federal decennial census; or

(ii) more than 30 minutes from a city with a population greater than 4,300 based on the most recent federal decennial census.

(3) The board of public education shall publish by December 1 an annual report listing the schools and the licensure or endorsement areas identified as impacted by critical quality educator shortages, explaining the reasons that specific schools and licensure or endorsement areas have been identified and providing information regarding any success in retention. The report must apply to the school year that begins July 1 following the publication of the report in order to assist recruitment by impacted schools. For the school year beginning July 1, 2017, eligibility for the program may be governed by the report adopted by the board of public education by December 1, 2017.

(4) A quality educator working at a school identified in subsection (1) is eligible for repayment of all or part of the quality educator's outstanding educational loans existing at the time of application in accordance with the eligibility and award criteria established under this part.