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

Athletic trainers get taxable loan help

Beginning August 1, 2025, Alabama's Math and Science Teacher Education Program offers loan help to eligible athletic trainers. Awards are $7,500 per year worked or $3,750 per semester worked, for up to four consecutive years. Payments come twice yearly, after January 1 and after June 1. Awards depend on available funding; eligible educators get priority when funding falls short. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents with outstanding subsidized or unsubsidized federal student loans. They need an approved athletic training master's degree and an active Alabama license in good standing. The degree must meet national athletic training accreditation standards and come from an approved public or nonprofit college. Trainers must average at least 20 service hours weekly throughout the year at qualifying Alabama public K–12 schools or systems. These schools or systems must require athletic training services for sanctioned activities. Applicants cannot have received or plan to receive an Athletic Trainer Secondary School Incentive Program grant. Recipients must meet continuing eligibility rules and receive notice that the IRS considers awards taxable income. They must report material changes, including employment, name, or residence, in writing within 30 days; failure affects future eligibility. Individuals and institutions can petition for review and seek rehearing or appeal of commission actions. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education runs the program in consultation with the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers. It can set additional rules and must create a plan covering goals, activities, outcomes, performance measures, monitoring, and evaluation. It must consult the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services on evaluation. Program operations and administration can use no more than 10% of annual appropriations.