Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers
Every year TEA submits a list of teacher shortage areas by subject matter and a list of designated low-income schools to the U.S. Department of Education. Teachers with certain types of student loans may qualify for partial loan forgiveness, deferment, or cancellation benefits.
Eligibility for these benefits depends on the type of loan the teacher has, the date of his or her first loan, and whether the teacher serves in a designated low-income school or subject matter teacher shortage area.
TEA does not determine an educator’s eligibility for teacher loan forgiveness. You will need to contact your loan holder directly regarding the amount of loan forgiveness you will be eligible to receive. The loan holder, not TEA, has authority regarding the provision of that allowance.
You can also . A loan servicer is a company that handles the billing and other services on your federal student loan.
Teacher Shortage Areas
The teacher shortage areas have been approved by the U.S. Department of Education. The 2026–2027 shortage areas are now available below, along with the previously approved years.
Declared Areas – All levels unless noted
• Bilingual/English as a Second Language
• Career and Technical Education (Secondary Only)
• Computer Science / Technology Applications
• English Language Arts and Reading (Secondary Only)
• Special Education
The following are critical shortage areas allowing individuals to apply for TEACH Grants and/or Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
• Bilingual/English as a Second Language
• Career and Technical Education (Secondary Only)
• Computer Science / Technology Applications
• Special Education
Declared Areas – All levels unless noted
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
- Computer Science/Technology Applications
- English Language Arts and Reading (secondary level only)
- Mathematics (secondary level only)
- Special Education
The following are critical shortage areas allowing individuals to apply for TEACH Grants and/or Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
- Computer Science/Technology Applications
- Special Education
Declared Areas – All levels unless noted
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
- Computer Science/Technology Applications
- English Language Arts and Reading (secondary level only)
- Mathematics (secondary level only)
- Special Education
The following are critical shortage areas allowing individuals to apply for TEACH Grants and/or Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
- Computer Science/Technology Applications
- Special Education
Declared Areas – All levels unless noted
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
- Computer Science/Technology Applications
- English Language Arts and Reading (secondary level only)
- Mathematics (secondary level only)
- Science (secondary level only)
- Social Studies (secondary level only)
- Special Education
The following are critical shortage areas allowing individuals to apply for TEACH Grants and/or Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
- Computer Science/Technology Applications
- Special Education
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language – Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Special Education – Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Career and Technical Education - Secondary Level
- Technology Applications and Computer Science – Elementary and Secondary Levels
- English Language Arts and Reading – Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Mathematics - Secondary Level
- Science – Secondary Level
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language - Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Special Education - Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Career and Technical Education - Secondary Levels
- Technology Applications and Computer Science - Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Mathematics - Secondary Levels
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language - Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Special Education - Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Career and Technical Education - Secondary Levels
- Technology Applications and Computer Science - Secondary Levels
- Mathematics - Secondary Levels
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language - Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Special Education - Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Career and Technical Education - Secondary Levels
- Technology Applications and Computer Science - Secondary Levels
- Mathematics - Secondary Levels
Loan Forgiveness Options
This section explains the different loan forgiveness programs available to teachers and other school staff.
Teacher Only Forgiveness and Repayment Options | Education Staff (Teachers and Non-Teachers)Forgiveness and Repayment Programs |
Teachers may apply for any of the programs listed in the chart above if:
- You have federal student loans (private loans do not qualify), and
- Your unpaid loan balance is higher than the forgiveness amount, and
- You meet the specific requirements of the program.
If you are unsure what type of loan you have, contact your loan lender or loan servicer.
Note: To qualify for Perkins Loan Teacher Cancellation, you must have a federal Perkins loan. You may begin the cancellation process at the start of your first eligible teaching year. Contact the university that issued your Perkins loan to initiate this process.
If you are a special education teacher, you must have an official from your public or nonprofit school certify that you teach students with disabilities. Certification must be provided on:
A Perkins loan cancellation/postponement form, or
An official school letter on letterhead or bearing the school seal.
For Perkins loans made on or after July 23, 1992, teacher cancellation includes special education teachers.
If you provide one of the following services, you are considered a teacher for cancellation purposes only if:
- You are licensed, certified, or registered by the appropriate state education agency in the area of service, and
- The services you provide are part of the educational curriculum for students with disabilities.
Eligible special education service areas include:
Speech and language pathology
Audiology
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Psychological and counseling services
Recreational therapy
Other Grant and Loan Resources
The programs below are not affiliated with TEA but may be helpful resources. Please direct all inquiries to the specific program.