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Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it that only a borrower who took out his or her first FFELP or Direct loan on or after October 1, 1998 (or who had no outstanding balance on a prior FFELP or Direct loan at the time the borrower took out a new loan on or after October 1, 1998), qualifies for forgiveness under this program?
The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is a program that Congress created in 1998 in response to existing and anticipated teacher shortages. Congress limited the range of borrowers to encourage new people to enter into and continue working in the teaching profession.
What if I borrowed a FFELP or Direct loan before October 1, 1998, and still had an outstanding balance on that loan when I borrowed a new loan on or after October 1, 1998? Can I apply for forgiveness on the loan I borrowed on or after October 1, 1998?
No, unfortunately, you must have borrowed your first FFELP or Direct loan on or after October 1, 1998, or you must have paid off any FFELP or Direct loan you borrowed before October 1, 1998, before you borrowed a new loan on or after October 1, 1998 (and meet other applicable eligibility criteria) to qualify for teacher loan forgiveness.
Can teacher's aides qualify for forgiveness too?
No, only full-time teachers qualify for forgiveness under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.
For purposes of the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application, who is my "chief administrative officer"?
The chief administrative officer at a school is usually your school's principal, assistant principal, or district superintendent. The chief administrative officer is not your school’s or district’s human resource manager. In the case of a special education teacher employed by an educational service agency, this person is the chief administrative officer of that agency (effective for teacher loan forgiveness applications received on or after August 14, 2008).
What role does my chief administrative officer play?
Your school's or agency's chief administrative officer certifies that you have met the teaching service requirements for teacher loan forgiveness. Your Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application is not complete until your chief administrative officer has completed the certification process.
Why is there a different set of requirements for teachers who began their teaching service on or after October 30, 2004?
That is the date that the Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act (Act) was signed into law. The Act, among other things, provides increased teacher loan forgiveness benefits for certain highly qualified secondary math and science teachers as well as certain highly qualified elementary and secondary special education teachers.
If I make payments on my loans and the outstanding balance is less than $5,000 ($17,500 for certain highly qualified secondary math or science teachers, or elementary or secondary special education teachers) at the end of my five years of qualifying teaching service, can any payments I've made be refunded?
No. The loan forgiveness applies only to any outstanding balance at the end of your five-year period of qualifying teaching service. That's why if you have a low balance, it is advantageous for you to request a forbearance while you are performing your teaching service, to help you maximize your loan forgiveness benefit.
Can I postpone my loan payments while I'm completing my teaching service?
You can request a forbearance by completing a Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forbearance Form, available for download at www.tgslc.org/forms/frms_tlf.cfm, and sending it to your lender. Your lender is required to grant this forbearance only if the lender believes that the maximum forgiveness amount you are seeking will pay your loan balance off in full at the end of your qualifying teaching service.
Is there a Web site that lists all of the qualifying schools and locations at which a borrower could teach to be eligible for teacher loan forgiveness?
Yes. A link is available from www.tgslc.org/forms/frms_tlf.cfm. However, the list of qualifying schools and locations changes each year, and a school may be considered "low-income" one year but not the next.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forms
Teacher Loan Forgiveness-Qualifying Schools
Are you teaching at a low-income school that may qualify you for Teacher Loan Forgiveness? Find out here!
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