1. (a) The school where a teacher of the year is regularly employed shall do the following:

   1. (1) Grant the teacher a one (1) year professional leave to provide service as described in section 1 of this chapter.

   2. (2) Allow the teacher to return to the school from the professional leave:

      1. (A) to the same or a comparable position as the teacher held before the professional leave; and
      2. (B) without loss of accrued benefits or seniority.
   3. (3) Continue to provide the teacher all benefits of employment with the school other than salary.

2. (b) The department shall reimburse a school for the cost of benefits provided by the school to a teacher under subsection (a)(3).

   [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-4-6.]

As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.