Certain teachers can have a portion of their Federal Stafford loans forgiven through the Federal Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers.

Eligibility

To be eligible, teachers must meet the following requirements:
  • You must have borrowed a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL); and
  • You must have an outstanding loan balance which began on or after October 1, 1998; and
  • You must not be in default on the loan for which you seek forgiveness; and
  • You must have worked full-time as an elementary or secondary school teacher for five consecutive, complete school years, at least one of which was after the 1997-98 academic year, in a designated school that qualifies for loan cancellation under the Perkins Loan Program.

    You are eligible for up to $5,000 in forgiveness if you meet the eligibility requirements noted above and:
  • You have worked for five years as a "highly qualified teacher"* or,
  • The chief administrative officer of the school has established that you meet the eligibility requirements of the teacher loan forgiveness that existed under prior law.

    You are eligible for up to $17,500 in forgiveness if you have met the eligibility requirements noted above, have worked full-time as a "highly qualified teacher"* for five consecutive years, and have taught:
  • Mathematics or science in a secondary school, or
  • Special education at an elementary or secondary school.

    *The "highly qualified teacher" definition is contained in the No Child Left Behind Act. Certification of who is a highly qualified teacher is restricted to the chief administrative officer of the school in which the borrower is employed.

    To Apply

    Apply for forgiveness by completing the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application. You can apply for forbearance for up to 60 days while you're completing the loan forgiveness application, which includes the time it takes for the lender and guarantor to review it. To apply for forbearance complete the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forbearance Application.

    More Information

    Visit the U.S. Department of Education web site or contact a HESC representative at the Office of Counsel and Regulatory Compliance at 518-473-3986, toll free at 1-888-697-HESC (1-888-697-4372), or TLF@hesc.org.