FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                 July 8, 2016
Contact: Cynthia T. Graham
Director of Public Relations
(340) 774-0100, Ext. 8136
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.vide.vi

EDUCATORS IN 13 TEACHER SHORTAGE AREAS ELIGIBLE FOR STUDENT LOAN BENEFITS

ST. THOMAS, USVI – The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) on June 21 approved an application from the Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) to designate 13 of the VIDE’s academic disciplines or subject matter as teacher-shortage areas during the 2016-17 school year. As a result of the USDE’s approval, student grant and loan recipients who are qualified to teach in the following areas may benefit by receiving loan cancellations or other incentives:

Statewide Academic Disciplines or Subject Matter
Art
Bilingual/English as a Second Language
Elementary Education
English
Foreign Languages
Mathematics (Grades 7-12)
Music
Physical Education
Reading
School Nurse
Science
Social Studies
Special Education

According to the USDE, the benefits to student financial aid recipients are indicated in the
following regulatory provisions:
• 34 CFR 682.21 O(b)(5)(ii), (b)(7), (q), and (s) enable a borrower who had no
outstanding Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loan on July 1 , 1987,
but who had an outstanding FFEL Program loan on July 1, 1993, to qualify for
deferment of loan repayment under the Stafford Loan Program anytime within the
life of the borrower's loan(s) for up to three years of service as a full-time teacher
in a private elementary or secondary school in a teacher shortage area designated
by the Department, and as certified by the chief administrative officer of the
particular school in which the borrower is teaching;

• 34 CFR 674.53(c) enables Federal Perkins Loan borrowers who are full-time teachers
of mathematics, science, foreign languages, bilingual education, or any other field of
expertise where the State educational agency determined there is a shortage of
qualified teachers to qualify for cancellation of up to 100% of the outstanding
balance on the borrower's Federal Perkins loans; and

• 34 CFR 686. 12(d) enables grant recipients to fulfill their teaching obligation under
the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
Grant Program (regarding the requirement to serve at least four academic years,
with in eight years of graduation) by teaching in a "high-need field," which includes
academic disciplines/subject areas identified as teacher shortage areas at the time
the grant recipient begins teaching in that field.

Stafford Loan and Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) borrowers with questions concerning
their loans, may contact the Federal Student Aid Hotline at 1-800-4FED-AID. Federal Perkins
Loan borrowers should contact the school where they received the loan.

For other questions or concerns, contact the VIDE’s Human Resources Office at (340) 774-0100.

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