It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Legislature to establish a continuing education program whereby teachers employed to teach mathematics may obtain certification in mathematics and teachers certified to teach mathematics in the state may take higher education courses in order to obtain the competencies needed to enable the teacher to successfully complete the subject area examinations and become certified to teach any of the core curriculum mathematics courses recommended by the American College Test. The program shall pay up to One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per credit hour up to a maximum of twenty-four (24) credit hours for a teacher to take higher education courses in mathematics. Teachers required to gain certification as provided in Section 4 of this act shall be given priority in the funding for the continuing education program. The purpose of the program is to improve the knowledge and skills of teachers and to ensure that the children of the state are taught by professional educators, fully prepared in the area of mathematics.

Laws 1999, HB 1759, c. 320, § 45, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (Laws 2000, HB 2728, c. 232, § 23).