Teach for Texas Loan Repayment Assistance Program

Important Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance

As we work to ensure the safety and health of our staff, we are committed to continuing service to our customers, but please be aware that you may experience a delay in response. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Currently we can receive loan repayment program communications via email only at Contact Us.

The purpose of the Teach for Texas Loan Repayment Assistance Program (TFTLRAP) is to recruit and retain certified classroom teachers in fields and communities that have a shortage of teachers in Texas.

Applications for the 2019-2020 Academic Year

Texas Administrative Code 23.34 states, “Renewal applications shall be given priority over first-time applications unless a break in service periods has occurred. Acceptance of initial applications will depend upon the availability of funds.”

Due to limited funding this year, we are unable to accept applications from teachers who did not participate in the program during the 2018-2019 academic year. On June 22, 2020 a message was sent by e-mail to teachers who participated in the program during the 2018-2019 academic year and have remaining eligibility. The message included a link to a renewal application. If you received an award for the 2018-2019 academic year, but did not receive an email, please email us (select "Student Loan Question" option under Contact Reason).

Funding for State Fiscal Year 2020-2021

Funding for the 2020-2021 academic year will be sufficient for renewal awards only. Therefore, teachers in the program who received awards for the prior academic year and who remain eligible will be invited to submit applications at the end of the academic year.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements to qualify for participation in the program:

• be certified in a shortage teaching field, be currently teaching full time in that field at the time of application, and have taught in that field full time for at least one year at the preschool, primary, or secondary level in a Texas public school

       or

• be a certified educator currently teaching in a shortage community full time at the time of application at the preschool, primary, or secondary level and have taught in that community full time for at least one year

 * NOTE: Title I designation is not a criterion for determining shortage campuses.

 Designated Shortage Fields for 2019-2020

• Bilingual/English as a Second Language (Grades PK-12)
• Career and Technical Education (including Technology Applications and Computer Science) (Grades 7-12)
• Mathematics (Grades 7-12)
• Special Education (Grades PK-12)

For additional details, including priority of application acceptance and ranking, please review the administrative rules for the program.

Application

As stated above, a reduction in the program budget does not allow us to accept applications from teachers who did not participate in the program last year. In keeping with the administrative rule that applies to this circumstance, by e-mail sent on June 22,2020, we have invited prior year participants to apply. If you participated in the program last year and did not receive our e-mail, please email us (select "Student Loan Question" option under Contact Reason).

Award Amount

• Up to a maximum of $2,500.
• Loan repayment assistance received through this program will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service.

Eligible Loans

The following requirements apply for a loan to be eligible for repayment through the program:

• must be evidenced by a promissory note which required the loan proceeds to be used to pay for the cost of attendance for the undergraduate or graduate education of the teacher applying for repayment assistance
• must not be in default at the time of the teacher’s application
• must not have an existing obligation to provide service for loan forgiveness through another program 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered full time?
     Teaching students for at least four hours each day in a classroom setting, performing instructional duties as a full-time employee of a Texas public school district.

How do I know if my school qualifies as a shortage community?

     To verify if your school is considered a shortage campus, go to the  Teaching Shortage Community search page.

I forgot to upload my teaching certificate with my application.  What do I do?
     We will access the information from the State Board for Educator Certification website.

I provided the wrong name/email for my CAO.  How do I correct this?
     Please contact us for further instructions.

My CAO never received the employment verification form.  What do I do?
     Ask the CAO to check his/her spam/junk email folders. If after 48 hours, the form cannot be located, please contact us for further instructions.

My CAO received an error message when he/she completed the employment verification form.  What does this mean?
     This error occurs because the CAO makes changes to the prepopulated information on the form. Please contact our office to determine if we have received the completed form.

My CAO cannot complete the form.  Who else can complete the form besides my principal? 
     The assistant principal, Human Resources official authorized to verify employment, or superintendent or his/her designee may complete the form.

If I have been awarded funds in the past and apply this year, will I be guaranteed to receive funds?
     Funds are not guaranteed. If you still meet the eligibility requirements and have not had a break in service or a break in application periods, you will receive priority for funding before new applicants receive consideration.

I teach Math and/or Science, but have a Self-Contained/Generalist/Core Subjects certificate.  Do I qualify as teaching a shortage field?
     Per the Texas Education Agency, an applicant with a Generalist, Self-Contained, or Core Subject certificate is able to teach various subjects, but is not considered to be teaching a shortage field. 

I am an instructional coach.  Am I eligible?
     No. Instructional coaches work primarily work with classroom teachers to provide instructional and curriculum support.

Are assistant principals, counselors, or librarians eligible?
     No. They do not provide classroom instruction.

I am applying for the Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.  Am I eligible to apply for this program also?
     Yes. Administrative rules for the program do not prohibit teachers from qualifying for repayment of their student loans through more than one program. However, loans whose governing promissory notes include a provision for forgiveness of the loans upon the borrower’s completion of a specified service obligation are not eligible for repayment through the TFTLRAP.

I have been teaching for several years and just learned about this program.  Can I receive funds for my previous years of teaching?
     No. Applications must be received by the deadline established for each year of funding.

The name on my teaching certificate is different from my current name.  Which name do I use on my application?
     You must apply using your current legal name. There is a place on the application to provide the name on the teaching certificate. 

I began teaching after the year started.  Am I eligible to apply?
     No. You must wait until the next academic year since one of the program eligibility requirements is to provide one academic year of teaching for the school year for which funds are being awarded.

I am teaching with a probationary certificate.  Am I eligible to apply?
     No. Applicants teaching with a probationary, temporary, or emergency permit are not eligible. If the applicant has a one-year certificate, the applicant is eligible. 

Can I submit a paper form?

     No. Paper forms are not accepted. You must apply online.