20-4-502. Definitions. For purposes of this part, unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Critical quality educator shortage area" means a specific licensure or endorsement area in an impacted school in which:

(a) in any of the 3 immediate preceding school fiscal years a position was:

(i) filled through the procedures set forth in 19-20-732, 20-4-106(1)(e), or 20-4-111;

(ii) filled from a candidate pool of less than five qualified candidates; or

(iii) advertised and remained vacant and unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates for a period in excess of 30 days; or

(b) a vacancy for the current school year was advertised for a period of at least 30 days and the district received less than five applications from qualified candidates.

(2) "Education cooperative" means a cooperative of Montana public schools as described in 20-7-451.

(3) "Educational loans" means all loans made pursuant to a federal loan program, except federal parent loans for undergraduate students (PLUS) loans, as provided in 20 U.S.C. 1078-2.

(4) "Federal loan program" means educational loans authorized by 20 U.S.C. 1071, et seq., 20 U.S.C. 1087a, et seq., and 20 U.S.C. 1087aa, et seq.

(5) "Impacted school" means:

(a) a special education cooperative;

(b) the Montana school for the deaf and blind, as described in 20-8-101;

(c) the Montana youth challenge program, as established in 10-1-1401;

(d) a state youth correctional facility, as defined in 41-5-103;

(e) a public school located on an Indian reservation; and

(f) a public school that, driving at a reasonable speed for the road surface, is located more than 20 minutes from a Montana city with a population greater than 15,000 based on the most recent federal decennial census.

(6) (a) "Quality educator" means a full-time equivalent educator, as reported to the superintendent of public instruction for accreditation purposes in the current school year, who:

(i) holds a valid certificate under the provisions of 20-4-106 and is employed by an entity listed in subsection (6)(b) in a position that requires an educator license in accordance with administrative rules adopted by the board of public education; or

(ii) is a licensed professional under 37-8-405, 37-8-415, 37-11-301, 37-15-301, 37-17-302, 37-22-301, 37-23-201, 37-24-301, or 37-25-302 and is employed by an entity listed in subsection (6)(b) of this section to provide services to students.

(b) For purposes of subsection (6)(a), an entity means:

(i) a school district;

(ii) an education cooperative;

(iii) the Montana school for the deaf and blind, as described in 20-8-101;

(iv) the Montana youth challenge program; and

(v) a state youth correctional facility, as defined in 41-5-103.

(7) "School district" means a public school district, as provided in 20-6-101 and 20-6-701.