Mass. Ties Teacher Loan-Payback Program to High Grades

By Leslie Harris

The state of Massachusetts wants its brightest college students to go into the classroom and teach, so much so that it is willing to help pay back their student loans--if they graduate in the top quarter of their class.

"This is a way for the state to bring more bright students into teaching," said Michael Sentance, the state secretary of education. "We have to do whatever we can," he said, to "make the compensation better so students will choose teaching instead of other professions."

While about 30 other states have loan-payback programs for teachers, Massachusetts is among the first to require eligible students to get high grades...