2008-09
Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Fact Sheet

• Be teaching full-time at a publicly-funded school* while holding a valid Florida Teacher's Certificate (Temporary or Professional) or Florida Department of Health License (Temporary or Permanent), issued by July 15, 2009, in the same CTS subject area employed that covers the current academic year of service.
• Have taken out loan(s) to fund enrollment in courses completed prior to being hired into the CTS area for which applying.  Loans concurrent with CTS area teaching service are not eligible loans for repayment.
• Be under contract with, and teaching in, a Florida publicly-funded school.*
  • Teach in a CTS subject area;
  • Hold a temporary or permanent certification in the same CTS area as teaching in;
  • Apply in the first year of having both the CTS position and the CTS certification or license; and
  • Teach at least 90 days of the school year in the CTS area.
  • Note: Endorsements are not eligible for the CTSLF.
• Not have received a scholarship loan under the:
  • Florida Teacher Scholarship & Forgivable Loan Program (1993-04 through 2001-02),
  • "Chappie" James Most Promising Teacher Scholarship Loan Program (1985-86 through 1992-93),
  • Critical Teacher Scholarship Loan Program (1983-84 through 1992-93),
  • Masters' Fellowship Loan Program for Teachers (1985-86 through 1992-93), or
  • Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program (1986-87 through 1995-96).
• Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.

• Submit for 2008-09 Teaching Service, a fully completed error free 2009-10 Initial Teacher Florida Financial Aid Application to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA)** at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org.  Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then Initial State Teacher Application.  This application is available online January 1, 2009.
  • The deadline is July 15 of the first school year in which the applicant taught full-time for at least 90 days as a certified teacher in a CTS subject area.
  • If a teacher has taught more than 90 days but fewer than 180 days, the teacher may reapply as an initial applicant during the next application period or receive a prorated award for the current application period.
• Contact OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004 if the application acknowledgement correspondence has not been received within ten business days following date of submission.
• Submit academic transcript(s) from postsecondary educational institution(s) from which a baccalaureate degree, or higher, was received prior to becoming a certified teacher in a CTS subject area.
  • If the applicant attended a Florida postsecondary institution (PSI), the Postsecondary Institution Certification Form must be completed by the institution’s designated employee online using the PSI Teacher Certification Reports at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, and submitted to OSFA by July 15, 2009.
  • If the applicant attended an out-of-state institution, he/she must submit transcripts to OSFA by July 15, 2009.  An applicant may request that the out-of-state postsecondary institution(s) submit his/her transcript(s) to OSFA** or the applicant may submit an unofficial transcript(s).  All submissions must verify that a degree was received.
  • An applicant should validate FDOE’s receipt of the completed form or transcript information online by using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.

• Ensure certification of each educational loan(s) received prior to becoming a certified teacher in the CTS subject area for which the applicant is applying.
  • OSFA uses The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to certify the applicant’s student loans.
  • The teacher may monitor the progress of the certification via the web by using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.
    • The teacher retains responsibility for ensuring that OSFA receives a complete and accurate loan certification from each lender/servicing agent by July 15, 2009.
    
    or
    
    
  • If no loans appear on NSLDS, OSFA will be unable to certify the loans, in which case, the Loan Certification Form (PDF) must be submitted by the teacher to each lender/servicing agent for verification and returned to OSFA by the program deadline.

• Ensure that the school district superintendent, charter school administrator, or designee has correctly certified the applicant’s employment eligibility online using the Employment Certification Form by July 15, 2009.  Incorrect Employment Certification will adversely affect program eligibility.
• Verify FDOE’s receipt of the completed form online by using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.  Visit www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, and select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Application Status & Award History, and then under Initial Teacher Status, select Application/Certification.

• Verify all information submitted online by the applicant, lender(s), Employer Certifier, postsecondary institution(s), FDOE Certification, and/or FDOH Licensure is accurate.
• Verify completion of this information using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.  Visit www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, and select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Application Status & Award History, and then under Initial Teacher Status, select Application/Certification.
• Ensure that personal e-mail is checked frequently to avoid delay in reviewing official, time-sensitive communication sent by OSFA.


Note: An application checklist is provided for all Teacher Program applicants at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by selecting State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, Initial State Teacher Application, and then Application Checklist.

• Hold a valid Florida Teacher's Certificate (Temporary or Professional) or Florida Department of Health License (Temporary or Permanent) in the same CTS subject area employed (at the grade level for which employed) that covers the current academic year of service.
• Ensure that the school district superintendent, charter school administrator, or designee correctly certified the teacher’s employment eligibility online. The applicant should verify completion of this information using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.  Incorrect Employment Certification will adversely affect program eligibility.
• Update any personal, demographic, employment information on the OSFA Web site by using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.
• Notify OSFA of any lender changes/consolidations immediately by calling toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.

• Verify all information submitted online by the applicant, lender(s), Employer Certifier, FDOE Certification, and/or FDOH Licensure is accurate.
• Verify completion of this information using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.  Visit www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org and select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Application Status & Award History, and then under Renewal Teacher Status, select Certification.

• Submit a Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Teachers beginning February 1 at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by July 15.  Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Teachers.
• Hold a valid Florida Teacher's Certificate (Temporary or Professional) or Florida Department of Health License (Temporary or Permanent) in the same CTS subject area employed (at the grade level for which employed) that covers the current academic year of service.
• Ensure that the school district superintendent, charter school administrator, or designee correctly certified the teacher’s employment eligibility online.  The applicant should verify completion of this information using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.
• Notify OSFA of any lender changes/consolidations by calling toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.

• Verify all information submitted online by the applicant, lender(s), Employer Certifier, FDOE Certification, and/or FDOH Licensure is accurate.
• Verify completion of this information using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.  Visit www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org and select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Application Status & Award History, and then under Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Teachers Status, select Application/Certification.

• CTSLF awards may be prorated and vary each year depending upon annual funding, the number of eligible applicants, and timely receipt of all required forms and documentation described in the Eligibility Requirements.
  • Previous average annual award amounts may be viewed in the OSFA Annual Report to the Commissioner (PDF).
  • Participants may receive up to a maximum of $10,000 for the duration of the program.
  • For the 2007-08 award year, full-time teachers who taught at least 180 days:
    • with undergraduate degrees received $475
    • with graduate degrees received prior to becoming a teacher in a CTS area received $950.
• The award amount is based on the unpaid principal balance due on educational loans as of June 30 immediately preceding the applicant's original date of employment as a full-time teacher certified in a CTS subject area.  Loans must have been incurred by applicants to assist them in becoming a teacher. Interest and other costs are the responsibility of applicants.  Applicants who receive an award continue to be responsible for meeting repayment obligations to the lender.
• Teachers/Applicants are financially obligated for their loans and must continue to make regularly scheduled payments.
• Graduate courses that did not result in a graduate degree prior to teaching in an appropriate CTS subject area may be awarded at the undergraduate level.
• To receive an award, the applicant must have taught a full school year as defined by Section 1000.21, Florida Statutes, in a Florida publicly-funded school (180 or more days).  An applicant who completes at least 90 days, but less than 180 days of teaching may be eligible to receive half of a yearly prorated award.

• OSFA will notify the applicant of award eligibility late in the fall.
• Track your award eligibility via the OSFA Web site at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org using the User ID and PIN*** issued in the application acknowledgement correspondence.  Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Application Status & Award History, and then under Initial Teacher Status, Renewal Teachers Status, or Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Teachers Status, select Award.
• The award will be forwarded to the eligible teacher and will be issued in the form of a check made payable to the teacher and the lender.  After endorsing the check, the teacher is responsible for forwarding the check to the lender.  The teacher must include the loan account number on the check or payment slip to ensure an appropriate and timely payment.  If the amount of the check exceeds the amount of the remaining unpaid principal, the teacher is responsible for ensuring that the lender refunds the amount of the overpayment to the teacher.
• The check may be made payable to the teacher only if the teacher submits documentation to OSFA** from all lenders demonstrating that all principal balances due as of June 30 prior to the beginning date of eligible service have since been paid by the teacher.  Loan consolidation is not the equivalent of paying off all principal balances.  Checks can not be made payable to the teacher if loans are not paid off.

• Participants may receive up to a maximum of $10,000 in loan repayments for the duration of the program.
• Previous average annual award amounts may be viewed in the OSFA Annual Report to the Commissioner (PDF).

• By accessing and updating the teacher record on the OSFA Web site at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, using the assigned User ID and PIN***:
  • Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications,
  • select Application Status & Award History, and then
  • under Initial Teacher Update, select the appropriate option.
• By calling OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.

2008-09 Critical Teacher Shortage Areas for the
Critical Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness Program

Certification Areas for Loan Forgiveness
(endorsements are not eligible)

2009-10 Critical Teacher Shortage Areas for the
Critical Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness Program
for the 2008-09 academic/employment year

***The following areas are valid critical teacher shortage areas beginning
with the Initial Teacher Florida Financial Aid Application 2009-10,
which will be available January 1, 2009***

Certification Areas for Loan Forgiveness (endorsements are not eligible)

		Exceptional Student Education Programs (ESE) This ESE certification area also includes: Autism Emotionally Handicapped Hearing Impaired Mentally Handicapped Physically Impaired Specific Learning Disabled Speech and Language Impaired Varying Exceptionalities Visually Impaired
		English for Speakers of Other Languages Foreign Languages Middle and High School Level English/Language Arts Middle and High School Level Mathematics Middle and High School Level Science Reading Technology Education - Industrial Arts