NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Talk of the Sound has learned that many qualifying teachers in New Rochelle, and throughout Westchester County, may be eligible for thousands of dollars in loan forgiveness under the federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program
Under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program a teacher who teaches full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools and educational service agencies that serve low-income families, and meet other qualifications, may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $17,500 on Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. Those with PLUS loans only are not eligible for this type of forgiveness.
Teachers at 9 of the 10 public schools in New Rochelle teach at a school that is classified as serving low-income families: Henry Barnard School, Columbus Elementary School, Daniel Webster Elementary School, Trinity Elementary School, William B Ward Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Albert Leonard Middle School, Isaac E Young Middle School and New Rochelle High School. Davis Elementary School is not classified as serving low-income families and teachers at the school are not eligible.
Three private schools are also classified as serving low-income families: Holy Name Of Jesus School, Hallen School, Salesian High School
The eligibility requirements are as follows:
- You must not have had an outstanding balance on Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans as of Oct. 1, 1998, or on the date that you obtained a Direct Loan or FFEL Program loan after Oct. 1, 1998.
- If you are in default on a subsidized or unsubsidized loan, you are not eligible for forgiveness of that loan unless you have made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the holder of the defaulted loan.
- The loan(s) for which you are seeking forgiveness must have been made before the end of your five academic years of qualifying teaching service.
- Any time you spent teaching to receive benefits through AmeriCorps cannot be counted toward your required five years of teaching for Teacher Loan Forgiveness.
- You must have been employed as a full-time teacher for five complete and consecutive academic years, and at least one of those years must have been after the 1997–98 academic year.
- You must have been employed in an elementary or secondary school that is in a school district that qualifies for funds under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended; has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education based on a determination that more than 30 percent of the school’s total enrollment is made up of children who qualify for services provided under Title I; and is listed in the Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits. If this directory is not available before May 1 of any year, the previous year’s directory may be used.
Who is considered a teacher?
A teacher is a person who provides direct classroom teaching, or classroom-type teaching in a nonclassroom setting. Special Education teachers are considered teachers.
How long must a teacher have taught?
Teachers much teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years.
Service Completed Before Oct. 30, 2004
If your five complete and consecutive years of qualifying teaching service began before Oct. 30, 2004, please note the following:
You may receive up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness if, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the school where you were employed, you were a full-time elementary school teacher who demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and other areas of the elementary school curriculum; or a full-time secondary school teacher who taught in a subject area that was relevant to your academic major.
You may receive up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness if, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the school where you were employed, you were a highly qualified full-time mathematics or science teacher in an eligible secondary school; or a highly qualified 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.
Service Beginning on or After Oct. 30, 2004
If your five complete and consecutive years of qualifying teacher service began on or after Oct. 30, 2004, please note the following:
You may receive up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness if you were a highly qualified full-time elementary or secondary school teacher.
You may receive up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness if, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the school where you were employed, you were a highly qualified full-time mathematics or science teacher in an eligible secondary school; or a highly qualified 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
For full details visit the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program web site.
The 2014-15 database for New York State schools determined to be serving low-income families is here.
Application form is here.
