Recruitment & Special Programs > Loan Forgiveness

Loan Forgiveness Program

The Loan Forgiveness Program offers New York State certified classroom teachers and school based pedagogic clinicians working in specified shortage areas and bilingual education, the opportunity to have student loans repaid. This program serves to increase the number of licensed personnel serving in the New York City public schools in the following critical shortage area disciplines:

Bilingual Special Education
Bilingual School Counselor
Bilingual School Psychology
Bilingual School Social Worker
Speech Language Pathology (monolingual and bilingual)
Visually Impaired (monolingual and bilingual)

The following types of loans are considered approved sources:

Perkins Loan Program (formerly National Direct Student Loan)
Stafford Student Loan Programs (Guaranteed Student Loan)
Supplemental Loans for Students (Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students)
Health Professions Student Loans/Nursing Student Loans
Health Education Assistance Loans
Bank Loans for Educational Purposes

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Possession of an appropriate New York State initial or provisional certificate corresponding to one of the above shortage areas. Bilingual areas require possession of a bilingual extension to the certificate. If the applicant has not yet received the actual certificate or extension, an official letter from the college/university indicating that they have satisfactorily completed a state approved education program.
Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency.

RESTRICTIONS

Awardees must not have benefited from or participated in any other incentive programs administered by the Department of Education (i.e., Scholarship Program, Teachers of Tomorrow, Intensive Teacher Institute in Bilingual Special Education (ITI-BSE), New York City Teaching Fellows, Teach for America, I-Start, New Visions Urban Teacher Residency Program, Success Via Apprenticeship, Math for America, etc.).
Current or past Department of Education pedagogical or clinical employees are not eligible to participate in this program.

SERVICE AGREEMENT

Eligibility is only for a period of six (6) consecutive years. To maintain eligibility, participants must complete ten (10) months of satisfactory public school service in the assigned discipline or twelve (12) months of service, if assigned to a special education school.

IMPORTANT

To be considered for acceptance into the Loan Forgiveness Program, you must complete the online application and submit the following documentation within 10 business days from the date the application was filed:

Copy of your New York State Certificate issued in one of the shortage areas listed above.
College Transcripts (student copies are acceptable).
Resume.
Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency status.
Proof of outstanding student loans.

Please mail documentation to:
New York City Department of Education
Division of Operational Support Services
Office of Scholarship and Incentive Programs
65 Court Street, Room 508
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201
Attention: Loan Forgiveness Program

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Click here to submit an application

Implementation of the Loan Forgiveness Program is contingent upon the availability of resources and the staffing needs of the NYC Department of Education. If you require further information, please call the Office of Scholarship and Incentive Programs at (718) 935-2449. We look forward to receiving your application.

It is the policy of the Department of Education of the City of New York to provide educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship status, age, marital status, partnership status, disability, sexual orientation, gender (sex), military status, prior record of arrest or conviction (except as permitted by law), predisposing genetic characteristics, or status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual offenses and stalking, and to maintain an environment free of harassment on any of the above-noted grounds, including sexual harassment or retaliation. Inquiries regarding compliance with this equal opportunity policy may be directed to: Office of Equal Opportunity, 65 Court Street, Room 923, Brooklyn, New York 11201, or visit the OEO website at http://schools.nyc.gov/OEO