Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP), renamed the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program; providing loan assistance in acute educator shortage programs as determined by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the State Department of Education and the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services

SB 74 renames Alabama's AMSTEP program to the LASEA Program (Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama) and expands eligibility to include teachers certified in *any* state-identified acute educator shortage area - not just math, science, or computer science. It provides standard loan assistance to educators in shortage fields and adds supplemental payments for those working in schools or districts designated as having acute shortages (determined by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education with the State Department of Education). The bill directly affects public K-12 teachers in shortage subjects and their schools, aiming to attract and retain educators in high-need areas through financial incentives. It also requires the commission to develop an accountability plan for the program’s evaluation.