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

HB 272 renames Alabama's AMSTEP program to the LASEA Program (Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama) and expands eligibility to include educators certified in any "acute educator shortage" program, not just math, science, or computer science. It provides loan repayment assistance of $3,750 per semester for math/science teachers and $1,500 for computer science teachers (up to $7,500 annually), with an additional supplemental payment for those working in designated shortage locations. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the State Department of Education, determines which educator programs and school locations qualify as "acute shortage" areas. This change directly affects certified K-12 teachers in high-need subject areas and schools facing staffing shortages across Alabama.