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.