| This bill creates a state fund to provide a subsidy of up to |
| $2,000 per district to help schools hire teachers for hard-to- |
| fill positions. The bill sets a minimum teacher salary of 1.5 |
| times the federal poverty level for a family of 3 with an |
| additional $2,000 differential for teachers with master's |
| degrees. The bill also establishes the Maine Teachers Student |
| Loan Forgiveness Program as an additional incentive for teachers |
| to teach in schools in this State. |
