How to qualify for teacher loan forgiveness

Teachers to qualify for Loan Forgiveness involves multiple criteria as listed below.

Question	Answer
Who qualifies for teacher loan forgiveness?	Highly qualified teachers who have taught full-time for 5 complete and consecutive academic years in qualifying low-income elementary and secondary schools, as well as educational service agencies with a high concentration of students from low-income families. This includes special education teachers as well as professionals who provide instruction for students, such as speech pathologists.
Who does not qualify for teacher loan forgiveness?	School librarians, teacher’s assistants, counselors, paraeducators, and other administrative staff
What is the definition of a complete academic year?	A complete academic year can be defined several ways: 1 complete school year at the same school; 2 complete and consecutive half years at different schools; 2 complete and consecutive half years from different school years, at either the same school or different schools; or A minimum of 9 months for schools operating on a year-round program of instruction.
How much money can I receive?	Between $5,000 and $17,500 (See questions 6 and 7 for details on the loans which qualify)
What determines how much money I get?	The amount you receive is based upon when you began your 5 consecutive years of teaching and what you taught: If your qualifying teaching service began before October 30, 2004: You may receive up to $5,000 if you were: A full-time teacher of elementary students and you demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and other areas of the elementary school curriculum; or A full-time teacher for secondary school students and you taught in a subject area that was relevant to your academic major. You may receive up to $17,500 if you were: A highly-qualified full-time teacher of mathematics or science teacher to secondary school students; or A highly-qualified full-time special education teacher whose primary responsibility was to provide special education to children with disabilities, and you taught children with disabilities that corresponded to your area of special education training and have demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in the content areas of the curriculum that you taught. If your qualifying teaching service began on or after October 30, 2004: You may receive up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness if you were a highly-qualified full-time teacher for elementary or secondary students. You may receive up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness if you were: A highly-qualified full-time teacher of
Is any type of loan eligible for forgiveness?	No. Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans as well as Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans are eligible. PLUS Loans are not eligible. Federal Perkins Loan participants could qualify for Teacher Loan Cancellation. Any loan received under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program is eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. You must not be in default on your loans, unless you have made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the loan provider. Loans taken out before October 1, 1998 are not eligible for teacher loan forgiveness. Any loans taken out prior to October 1, 1998 must be paid off in order to receive forgiveness for loans taken out after that date.
Do I qualify for loan forgiveness if I’ve taught at multiple schools?	Yes, as long as each school qualifies for funds under Title I and as long as it was for 5 consecutive years. Be sure to complete section 5 of the application for each school.
How many times can I receive loan forgiveness?	One time only
How do I know if my school qualifies for this program?	All schools serving over 30% low-income students are considered qualifying low-income schools for the purpose of Teacher Loan Forgiveness. You can check the Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory to see if your school is eligible by following these steps: On the main page, click the search button next to the directory search option. Select your state and the appropriate school year from the drop-down menus. Enter the school name and location (district) in the space provided and click search. Check your school’s eligibility for the first year you taught there. To see all schools in a given district, leave the school name field blank.
My school isn’t in the TCLI Directory, but I think it should be. What do I do?	Have an administrator complete the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Survey or email erica.tipton@education.ky.gov
What if my school was eligible one year, but not the next?	If your school meets the requirements for at least one year of your teaching, but not subsequent years, your subsequent years at that school may be counted toward the required 5 complete and consecutive years of academic teaching.
I’ve already paid off some/all of my loans, can I get a refund in place of loan forgiveness?	No.
What if I hold multiple loans with multiple lenders?	Complete a separate application for each lender.
How should I submit my loan forgiveness application?	While a preferred submission method is not stated on the website or application, keep in mind that the document does contain sensitive personal information such as the borrower’s Social Security Number and using standard mail may be the most secure option.
Where do I send my completed application?	The application should be sent directly to the company holding the loan. It is advisable to call the company or check their website to determine exactly where to send it.
Do I have to teach in Kentucky to qualify for teacher loan forgiveness?	No, teacher loan forgiveness is a federal program and is open to teachers in all states. The TCLI Directory contains the low-income status for all schools as far back as the 1997-98 school year.
What do I do if I found my school in TCLI but the information, such as grade span, is incorrect?	Please email erica.tipton@education.ky.gov
Why was my application for loan forgiveness rejected?	There could be a number of reasons. Some lenders will highlight a portion of the application indicating what the issue is. You can call your lender and request an explanation. You are permitted to re-apply.
Is there a way to determine whether or not a school will be eligible for the next school year?	Checking the school’s poverty percentage on the school/district website or School Report Card can provide some indication; for example, a school serving 85% low-income one year is not likely to drop to 30% the following year. However, there is no guarantee that a school will meet the qualifications from year to year.

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Note:It’s important to carefully consider all of your options before deciding on a course of action. It may be helpful to speak with a financial advisor or a loan counselor to explore your options and determine the best course of action for your specific situation.

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