In addition to the definitions set forth in Government Code sections 8869.82 and 8869.84(g); and unless otherwise required by the context, the following terms as used in this chapter are defined as follows:

“Academic Performance Index” or “API” means the index created by the Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999 to measure the performance of schools, especially the academic performance of pupils, and to demonstrate comparable improvement in academic achievement by all numerically significant ethnic and socio-economically disadvantaged subgroups within schools (Education Code 52052).

“Eligible Administrator” means any person who holds one of the following credentials issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing:

“Eligible Classified Employee” means an employee of a school district employed in a position not requiring certification qualifications and who provides administration or service at a High Priority School.

“Eligible Staff Member” means any person who holds one of the following credentials issued by the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing:

“Eligible Teacher” means any person who holds one of the following credentials issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing:

“ETCHP Application” means the Application titled “Application for an Allocation of the State Ceiling on Qualified Private Activity Bonds for an Extra Teacher Credit Home Purchase Program” (revised 11-16-16), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

“Extra Credit Teacher Home Purchase Program Eligibility Certificate” means the certification to be completed and submitted by the employing school district, County Office of Education or local Board of Education that certifies to all of the following: The Program Participant is an Eligible Teacher, Eligible Administrator, Eligible Classified Employee, or Eligible Staff Member; the Program Participant is not currently under suspension, and there is not currently pending any disciplinary inquiry, investigation, action or proceeding that could result in the suspension or dismissal of the Program Participant; the entity completing the certificate has verified with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing that the credential of the Program Participant is not currently under suspension, and there is not currently pending any disciplinary inquiry, investigation, action or proceeding that could result in the suspension or revocation of the credential of the Program Participant; and the personnel file of the Program Participant reflects that he or she has not been dismissed from employment with any school or school district for any reason, and that he or she has not been the subject of a disciplinary suspension that has been upheld.

“High Priority School” means a California K-12 public school ranked in the bottom 50% of all schools based on the most recent Academic Performance Index, i.e. schools receiving an API Statewide Ranking of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.

“Homeownership Assistance” means financial assistance, including down-payment assistance, closing cost assistance, soft-second financing for the purchase of a home, or such alternative homeownership assistance as proposed by the Applicant in the Application and approved by the Committee. The Homeownership Assistance must: Be in a minimum amount of $7,500 or 3% of the purchase price of the home, whichever is greater; be structured in the form of either a grant or a deferred payment loan where the payment of principal and interest is deferred until such time as the home is sold or re-financed; and include an incentive, to be proposed by the Applicant, for Program Participants to fully perform the three (3) year service commitment. Applicants will not be required to establish a distinct and separate homeownership program; existing programs may be used. The Committee may delegate to the Chair or to the Executive Director of the Committee the authority to accept and consider homeownership assistance of different types or characteristics than those specifically enumerated or required by this definition. The Committee may establish, or concur with the establishment of, higher assistance limits to ensure program participation in high cost areas.

“National Board Certification” means certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards based upon successful completion of a voluntary assessment program covering a variety of subject areas and student developmental levels.

“Program Participant” means an Eligible Teacher, Eligible Administrator, Eligible Classified Employee, or Eligible Staff Member who receives a Mortgage Credit Certificate or a loan funded by Mortgage Revenue Bonds from an Issuer receiving an Allocation from the Extra Credit Teacher Home Purchase Program Pool.