If you qualify for this program, you could have up to $17,500 forgiven from your direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans or your subsidized and unsubsidized federal Stafford loans. If you repaid one of these eligible loans with a direct consolidation loan or a federal consolidation loan, you might be able to have the outstanding portion of the consolidation loan forgiven as well.

 

The eligibility for this program includes …

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• A highly qualified full-time special education teacher for elementary school and secondary school children with disabilities (forgiveness of up to $17,500).

• A highly qualified full-time mathematics or science teacher for secondary school students (forgiveness of up to $17,500).

• A highly qualified full-time secondary education teacher, or (only if my teaching service began before 10/30/2004) a fulltime secondary education teacher in a subject area relevant to my academic major (forgiveness of up to $5,000).

• A highly qualified full-time elementary education teacher, or (only if my teaching service began before 10/30/2004) a fulltime elementary education teacher and I demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and other areas of the elementary school curriculum (forgiveness of up to $5,000).

• Working for five full and consecutive academic years as a full-time, highly qualified teacher. At least one of those years must have been after the 1997-98 academic year.

• Having taken out your loans before the end of your five years of qualifying service.

• Having had no outstanding balance on direct loans or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program loans as of Oct. 1, 1998, or on the date you obtained the loan after that date.

• Being current (not in default) on the loan for which you’re seeking forgiveness, unless you’ve made acceptable repayment arrangements with the lender.