While the U.S. Department of Education has taken a step in the right direction by offering a Teacher Loan Forgiveness program, it unjustly excludes the majority of veteran teachers with this statement: "You must not have had an outstanding balance on Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans as of Oct. 1, 1998, or on the date that you obtained a Direct Loan or FFEL Program loan after Oct. 1, 1998."
I am 34 years old and had a loan balance as of July 1998. Those 3 months of education caused me to be ineligible for the $17,500 loan forgiveness despite the fact that I've taught 9 years in an eligible school. Too many great teachers are rejected by this requirement. It is time for some CHANGE. Let's actually reward our teachers who choose to stay in the trenches.