School directory update allows PSS teachers to apply for loan forgiveness

Dec 7, 2012

The Northern Marianas Public School System has made the clerical changes necessary for PSS teachers to apply for federal student loan forgiveness.  One of our teachers recently reported to her congressional office that she had been turned down for the loan forgiveness program because the Department of Education’s Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory did not include the Northern Marianas high school where the teacher worked.  We alerted PSS, which is responsible for entering NMI data in the Directory; and PSS quickly made the needed updates.  The Directory now includes all public schools in the NMI through school year 2012-2013.  Under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, full-time teachers who serve for five complete and consecutive academic years in elementary and secondary schools that serve low-income families may be eligible for forgiveness up to a combined total of $17,500 on federal loans.  Thanks to the constituent who alerted us to this problem; and thanks to all our teachers for their hard work educating our students.