20 USC 1087j - Loan cancellation for teachers

U.S Code last checked for updates: Feb 22, 2025

§ 1087j.

Loan cancellation for teachers

(a)

Statement of purpose

(b)

Program authorized

The Secretary shall carry out a program of canceling the obligation to repay a qualified loan amount in accordance with subsection (c) for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans made under this part for any new borrower on or after October 1, 1998, who—

(1)

has been employed as a full-time teacher for 5 consecutive complete school years—

(A)

in a school or location that qualifies under section 1087ee(a)(2)(A) of this title for loan cancellation for Perkins loan recipients who teach in such schools or locations; and

(B)

if employed as an elementary school or secondary school teacher, is highly qualified as defined in section 9101 1

 See References in Text note below.

of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 7801], or meets the requirements of subsection (g)(3); and

(2)

is not in default on a loan for which the borrower seeks forgiveness.

(c)

Qualified loan amounts

(1)

In general

(2)

Treatment of consolidation loans

(3)

Additional amounts for teachers in mathematics, science, or special education

Notwithstanding the amount specified in paragraph (1), the aggregate amount that the Secretary shall cancel under this section shall be not more than $17,500 in the case of—

(A)

a secondary school teacher—

(i)

who meets the requirements of subsection (b); and

(ii)

whose qualifying employment for purposes of such subsection is teaching mathematics or science on a full-time basis; and

(B)

an elementary school or secondary school teacher—

(i)

who meets the requirements of subsection (b);

(ii)

whose qualifying employment for purposes of such subsection is as a special education teacher whose primary responsibility is to provide special education to children with disabilities (as those terms are defined in section 1401 of this title); and

(iii)

who, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the public or non-profit private elementary school or secondary school in which the borrower is employed, or, in the case of a teacher who is employed by an educational service agency, as certified by the chief administrative officer of such agency, is teaching children with disabilities that correspond with the borrower’s special education training and has demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in the content areas of the elementary school or secondary school curriculum that the borrower is teaching.

(d)

Regulations

(e)

Construction

(f)

List

(g)

Additional eligibility provisions

(1)

Continued eligibility

Any teacher who performs service in a school that—

(A)

meets the requirements of subsection (b)(1)(A) in any year during such service; and

(B)

in a subsequent year fails to meet the requirements of such subsection, may continue to teach in such school and shall be eligible for loan cancellation pursuant to subsection (b).

(2)

Prevention of double benefits

No borrower may, for the same voluntary service, receive a benefit under both this section and—

(A)

section 1078–11 of this title;

(B)

section 1087e(m) of this title; or

(C)

subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.).

(3)

Private school teachers

(h)

“Year” defined

(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 460, as added Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 456, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1719; amended Pub. L. 108–409, § 3(a)(1)(B), (b)(2), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2300, 2301; Pub. L. 109–171, title VIII, § 8013(e)(2), Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 167; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 454, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3265; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 404(b)(4), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1946.)

cite as: 20 USC 1087j