Florida Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Program Description
The Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness (CTSLF) Program provides financial assistance to eligible Florida teachers who hold a valid Florida Teacher’s Certificate or Florida Department of Health License by assisting them in the repayment of undergraduate and graduate educational loans that led to certification in a statewide critical teacher shortage (CTS) subject area. The Florida CTSLF is a state-funded program and not the Federal Title I Program.

What are the Initial Eligibility Requirements to Receive Funding?
The teacher will:

* Be teaching full-time at a publicly-funded school* while holding a valid Florida Teacher's Certificate (Temporary or Professional) or Florida Department of Health License (Temporary or Permanent), issued by July 15, 2009, in the same CTS subject area employed that covers the current academic year of service.
* Have taken out loan(s) to fund enrollment in courses completed prior to being hired into the CTS area for which applying. Loans concurrent with CTS area teaching service are not eligible loans for repayment.
* Be under contract with, and teaching in, a Florida publicly-funded school.*
o Teach in a CTS subject area;
o Hold a temporary or permanent certification in the same CTS area as teaching in;
o Apply in the first year of having both the CTS position and the CTS certification or license; and
o Teach at least 90 days of the school year in the CTS area.
o Note: Endorsements are not eligible for the CTSLF.
* Not have received a scholarship loan under the:
o Florida Teacher Scholarship & Forgivable Loan Program (1993-04 through 2001-02),
o "Chappie" James Most Promising Teacher Scholarship Loan Program (1985-86 through 1992-93),
o Critical Teacher Scholarship Loan Program (1983-84 through 1992-93),
o Masters' Fellowship Loan Program for Teachers (1985-86 through 1992-93), or
o Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program (1986-87 through 1995-96).
* Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.

Teaching

Perkins Loans can be cancelled entirely if students become full-time teachers:

* in elementary or secondary schools for students from low-income families.

* in special education programs, including programs that teach children with disabilities in public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary schools.

* of math, science, foreign languages, bilingual education, or other subjects in fields designated as teacher-shortage areas.

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)

The federal government will cancel all or part of an educational loan under certain conditions. This benefit is available provided the borrower has not defaulted on his or her loan. Student loan cancellation is also called loan forgiveness.

Education loans may be cancelled when a borrower undertakes volunteer work.

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) members serve private, nonprofit, public interest groups that work to eradicate poverty, illiteracy, homelessness, and hunger. If a volunteer provides 1,700 hours of service, he or she receives $4,725 toward educational loans.

Peace Corps

The federal government will cancel all or part of an educational loan under certain conditions. This benefit is available provided the borrower has not defaulted on his or her loan. Student loan cancellation is also called loan forgiveness.

Education loans may be cancelled when a borrower undertakes volunteer work.

Volunteers in the Peace Corps can apply for deferment of Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and consolidation loans. Up to 70% of the total amount of a Perkins Loan can be forgiven; 15% increments are forgiven annually until 70% of the original amount has been forgiven.

Student Loan Forgiveness Basics

AmeriCorps

The federal government will cancel all or part of an educational loan under certain conditions. This benefit is available provided the borrower has not defaulted on his or her loan. Student loan cancellation is also called loan forgiveness.

Education loans may be cancelled when a borrower undertakes volunteer work.

When a borrower works for AmeriCorps for a period of 12 months, he or she is entitled to receive a stipend of up to $7,400 plus $4,725 toward repayment of education loans.

Obama - Student Loan Forgiveness for tech degrees

...Obama has talked about student loan forgiveness for those willing to work in communities of need. This program could be extended to those pursuing science, math and technology degrees. Degrees in the sciences can be costly and loan forgiveness could allow a more level playing field for all to enter these important career tracks.

We need our president to expand the imaginations of young people to include science, math and technology or we risk losing our standing economically in the competitive global marketplace.
(Source: www.democratandchronicle.com)