AMSTEP is a Federal Loan Repayment Program for qualifying math or science public high school teachers.

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) and the Alabama State Board of Education (ALSBE) are pleased to announce the implementation of the Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP).

Recognizing the shortage of public high school math and science teachers across the state, the 2018 Alabama Legislature passed into law this federal loan repayment program. AMSTEP has a two-fold mission: to encourage individuals to enroll in and complete programs leading to Alabama certification in mathematics or science; and to improve the educational system in Alabama by encouraging those who complete the program to accept math or science teaching positions in Alabama public schools, preferably in public school systems where the shortage of math or science teachers, or both, is most acute.

AMSTEP is being administered by ACHE. It is available specifically to teachers who graduated in 2018 and forward from that date.

There are two components of the program:

1. Base Program: Beginning Fall 2022 semester, new applicants base loan repayment is three thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($3,750) per semester worked, or $7,500 per year.
2. Supplemental Program: In order to receive a supplement pursuant to this act, a recipient shall also teach math or science, or both, in a geographic area within the state with an acute teacher shortage in math or science, or both. The supplement is an additional two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per year, or one thousand two hundred fifty dollars ($1,250) per semester worked. Geographic areas with acute shortages in math or science, or both, will be identified by ACHE, in consultation with the State Department of Education. A link to a list of the qualifying school districts can be found at the bottom of this page.

The recipient may only receive funds for a maximum of four consecutive years.

An applicant must satisfy all of the following:

1. 1. Be a graduate of an ALSBE approved program in math or science beginning with the spring term of 2018 and forward from that date, at the baccalaureate or master’s level, from an approved institution leading to an initial secondary professional educator certificate endorsed in math or science. This does not include a teacher who only earns a passing score on the Praxis test in math or science to add a certificate endorsement, and who has not completed an entire approved program.
   2. Holds a valid Alabama professional educator certificate endorsed in secondary math or science, or both.
   3. Is teaching math or science full-time in an Alabama public school district, or at a charter school which has been approved by the Alabama Public Charter School Commission.
   4. Is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
   5. Has been a resident of Alabama for at least twelve (12) months before the application deadline, and provides documentation proving a permanent connection to the state of Alabama. ACHE shall accept any one of the following as proof of residency:
      
      1. A current valid Alabama driver’s license.
      2. A current valid Alabama vehicle registration.
      3. A current valid Alabama voter registration card.
   6. Has outstanding federal student loans, subsidized or unsubsidized.

Steps in the Application Process:

1. 1. Complete Section I of the AMSTEP Verification Reimbursement Form (see AMSTEP Links box below for the form).
   2. Take the Verification Reimbursement Form to your System’s Superintendent or Human Resource Officer for them to complete Section II. The school system will then forward the form to the Alabama State Department of Education to verify your credentials (Section III).
   3. Upon completion of their review, the Alabama State Department of Education will then inform the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) if you meet the requirements.
   4. ACHE will inform you of the results of the verification process.
   5. Should you be approved to continue, you will need to submit the following information to ACHE by either email or by regular mail.
      
      1. Proof of Alabama residency, you must provide one of the following to ACHE one time:
         
         1. A current valid Alabama driver’s license.
         2. A current valid Alabama vehicle registration.
         3. A current valid Alabama voter registration card.
      2. Documentation concerning the balance of your federal student loans (subsidized or unsubsidized). This must be provided each time you apply for loan repayment funds.
      3. Should you meet all the criteria, ACHE will send you an email notification that you have been approved to participate in the program and you will be given detailed instructions on how to register with the State of Alabama’s Vendor Self Service (VSS) website so that you may receive your payments.