6.__Child care provider qualifications.__"Child care provider qualifications" means a degree or certificate in child development or a related area as determined by rule of the authority.

7.__Cost of attendance.__"Cost of attendance" has the same meaning as in 20 United States Code, Section 1087ll and the regulations, guidelines and procedures promulgated under that section except, for students attending less than half-time, cost of attendance is determined on the same basis as for students attending half-time.

8.__Duly enrolled.__"Duly enrolled" means, for an undergraduate, enrolled full-time and, for a graduate student, enrolled at least part-time at an institution of higher education, as evidenced in a form satisfactory to the authority.

9.__Eligible individual.__"Eligible individual" means a student who meets the eligibility requirements of section 12505.

10.__Graduating high school senior.__"Graduating high school senior" means a student who is a resident of the State, who graduates from a secondary school approved pursuant to section 2901 and who is entering that student's first year in an institution of higher education at the beginning of the next academic year. An academic year for graduating high school seniors is considered to be from September to June.

11.__Institution of higher education.__"Institution of higher education" means an institution of higher education located within this State, another state or a foreign country that meets the requirements of and conforms to the definitions contained in the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 United States Code, Section 1001(a) and the regulations, guidelines and procedures promulgated by the Secretary of Education pursuant to these sections of the law.

12.__Return service.__"Return service" means service in public elementary or secondary school or private school in this State approved for tuition purposes for a full school year as a certified teacher or a speech pathologist or service for a 12- month period in a child care facility by an individual who has attained child care provider qualifications.

13.__Student pursuing postbaccalaureate certification.