A. The department may grant a loan repayment award to repay loans obtained for the teacher educational expenses of a teacher upon such terms and conditions as may be imposed by rules of the department.
B. Applicants shall be licensed New Mexico teachers who are bona fide citizens and residents of the United States and of New Mexico and have taught at least three years in New Mexico. High priority shall be given to applicants who are teaching in designated high-need teacher positions in the state.
C. The department and the public education department shall jointly make a full and careful investigation of the ability and qualifications of each applicant and determine the fitness of a teacher to participate in the teacher loan repayment program.