BISMARCK, N.D. - Applications for a teacher incentive program aimed at retaining elementary and secondary teachers will be accepted by the North Dakota University System Office beginning April 1, 2006. The application deadline is June 30.

The Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness Program will reduce student loan indebtedness by $1,000 per year up to a maximum of three years for teachers who work at a grade level or in a content area identified as a teacher shortage area by the Department of Public Instruction. The 15 defined shortage areas for academic year 2005 - 06 are: art, computer education, driver and traffic safety education, English language arts/English as a second language, family and consumer sciences, health, health careers, languages/Native American languages, mathematics, music, science, social studies, special education programming, technology education - industrial arts, and trade and industrial education.

The program was introduced by Gov. Hoeven and approved by the legislature in the 2001 legislative session. Additional information and the loan application are available on the NDUS Web site at www.ndus.nodak.edu. Applications also may be obtained by calling the NDUS Office at 701.328.2960 or by writing to 600 East Boulevard Avenue - Dept. 215, Bismarck, ND 58505-0230. Funded applicants will be notified by July 30, 2006.