Straight Talk with Sam: Loan Forgiveness for Teachers

STRAIGHT TALK WITH SAM
Volume 5, Issue 16,
Loan Forgiveness for Teachers
April 18, 2005

There is no doubt that having a highly qualified teacher in the classroom can make all the difference in the world for a child. Recruiting and retaining those teachers is the highest priority of any school district. However, some schools have trouble getting and keeping good teachers.

One of the biggest reasons is that teachers have to be highly educated. Teachers invest a lot of money to master the skills necessary for teaching our youth. Given low teacher salaries, it can take several years before a teacher ever pays off his or her student loans.

If these teachers invest in the education of America's future, then they deserve a return on their investment. Teacher loan forgiveness is something I have fought for since my days in the Missouri legislature. I succeeded in providing historic teacher loan forgiveness while serving in the Missouri Legislature more than five years ago, and I am determined to succeed today.

Last year, I helped led the fight for teacher loan forgiveness in the House. The House passed legislation that would increase federal student loan forgiveness from $5,000 to $17,500 for many teachers who teach in poor or rural schools for a period of 5 years.

Teachers who dedicate much of their careers to teaching our children deserve financial relief. We all owe a debt of gratitude to teachers for what they do. Helping teachers pay off their student loan debt is just one way we can help them for the priceless job they do for our children.

http://www.house.gov/graves/straighttalk/2005issue16.htm