FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

If a participant is eligible, the program can offer one of 2 financial incentives.

A $5,000 Stipend to complete a teacher education program leading to a teaching license.
OR
A $10,000 Bonus for working in a qualifying school.

Troops to Teachers participants who accept financial assistance in the form of a Stipend or Bonus incur an obligation to teach for three years in schools or school districts that meet specified criteria as outlined below:

STIPEND

Participants accepting the $5K stipend are obligated to teach for three years in:

1. any school within a school district that has at least 20% of the students who come from families living below the poverty level,
   or
2. a school house where at least 50% of students are eligible for the free or reduced cost lunch program or have a "high percentage" (determined annually) of students with disabilities, so long as that school is in a school district that has between 10 and 20% of students who come from poverty level families.

BONUS

Participants may accept a bonus of $10K in lieu of the stipend if they are employed as a teacher in a school district that has at least 10% or greater of the students who come from families living below the poverty level and are:

1. teaching in a school house where at least 50% of students are eligible for the free or reduced cost lunch program,
   or
2. teaching in a school house that has a "high percentage" (determined annually) of students with disabilities. (The percentage for school year 2006 is 13.8%)

Participants who registered prior to 15 September 2005 may fulfill their teaching obligation under the operating rules in affect as of their date of registration.