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Background
Great schools depend on the ability to attract and retain qualified teachers. Loan forgiveness is an important tool for ensuring that highly qualified teachers are available in the high-poverty schools that need them most.
Legislative HistoryThe federal government offers several types of loan forgiveness to teachers who serve in low-income or subject-matter shortage areas upon completion of their degrees. For example, the federal Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act, passed in 2004, expands student loan forgiveness from $5,000 to $17,500 for secondary school teachers who teach mathematics or science and for elementary or secondary school teachers who teach special education in high-poverty schools for five or more years.
Wisconsin offers no comparable teacher loan forgiveness program.
WEAC PositionTo enhance recruitment and retention efforts in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Education Association Council supports establishing a new loan forgiveness program for those who choose to teach math, science, special education or English Language Learning (ELL) students in the Milwaukee Public Schools or in districts with at least 50 percent low-income pupils.
Talking Points. Studies show that teachers systematically move away from schools with low levels of achievement and high concentration of poor and minority children.
. Schools with concentrated poverty have greater teacher shortages, fewer applications for vacancies, higher absenteeism among teachers and staff, and high rates of teacher turnover.
. Without assistance, schools that serve students most in need of experienced, well-prepared teachers are likely to continue to face recurring cycles of staff vacancies.
. The federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) has greatly increased the pressure on school districts to correct staffing deficiencies in schools that serve large concentrations of poor and minority children. By the end of 2005-06, all teachers in core academic subjects must be "highly qualified" according to federal standards.
. The loan forgiveness program begins to address teacher shortages by focusing on the crucial need areas of math, science, special education and ELL.
. Loan forgiveness will be a valuable recruiting tool for high-poverty school districts.
Additional Information
Contact Deb Sybell, WEAC Legislative Program Coordinator, at 800-362-8034 ext. 227 or by e-mail at sybelld@weac.org with any reactions, comments or questions.
Posted May 4, 2006