Bill would let teachers jointly apply for debt relief programs | WOODTV.com

Bill would let teachers jointly apply for debt relief programs | WOODTV.com

"KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Teachers struggling to pay their student loans as they work in the classroom may be able to get more help from a bill in Washington.
If passed, legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-MI, called the Teacher Debt Relief Act, would allow teachers to jointly apply for two federal loan forgiveness programs.

• Currently, select teachers who have worked for at least five years can qualify for up to $17,500 of relief under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. But the Higher Education Act of 1965, a federal law, prevents them from also applying for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program at the same time. This means teachers still have to make payments for 10 more years to qualify for full federal relief under the latter program.
• If the Teacher Debt Relief Act passes, changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965 would remove that barrier...