Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill would cancel 100% of federal student loan debt for educators who complete five years of service in high-need schools or early childhood education programs. This covers teachers, school leaders, early childhood educators, and child care providers including family child care homes.
• While educators are actively working in qualifying jobs, the government would cover their monthly student loan payments and stop interest from building up on their loans. These payments also count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Past service counts. Educators who have already been working in qualifying roles can apply those years toward the five-year requirement, even if the service happened before the law takes effect. People who already received the old, smaller forgiveness benefit can also qualify for this expanded version.
• Parents who took out PLUS loans are also covered. If the student becomes a qualifying educator, the parent's loan qualifies for forgiveness. And if the parent is the one working as a qualifying educator, their PLUS loan qualifies too.
• Educators who leave their qualifying job early do not have to repay any monthly payments the government already made on their behalf. The five years of service also do not need to be consecutive, giving educators flexibility.
• The bill includes special provisions for educators in tribal and Native Hawaiian schools. Teachers of Alaska Native, American Indian, or Native Hawaiian languages can qualify even without full state certification, recognizing the unique role of indigenous language educators.