US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

20 U.S.C. § 1087ee

Cancellation of loans for certain public service

(a)

Cancellation of percentage of debt based on years of qualifying service

(1)
The percent specified in paragraph (3) of this subsection of the total amount of any loan made after , from a student loan fund assisted under this part shall be canceled for each complete year of service after such date by the borrower under circumstances described in paragraph (2).
(2)
Loans shall be canceled under paragraph (1) for service—
(A)
as a full-time teacher for service in an academic year (including such a teacher employed by an educational service agency)—
(i)
in a public or other nonprofit private elementary school or secondary school, which, for the purpose of this paragraph and for that year—
(I)
20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5) has been determined by the Secretary (pursuant to regulations of the Secretary and after consultation with the State educational agency of the State in which the school is located) to be a school in which the number of children meeting a measure of poverty under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [], exceeds 30 percent of the total number of children enrolled in such school; and
(II)
20 U.S.C. 6311 is in the school district of a local educational agency which is eligible in such year for assistance pursuant to part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [ et seq.]; or
(ii)
20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5) in one or more public, or nonprofit private, elementary schools or secondary schools or locations operated by an educational service agency that have been determined by the Secretary (pursuant to regulations of the Secretary and after consultation with the State educational agency of the State in which the educational service agency operates) to be a school or location at which the number of children taught who meet a measure of poverty under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [], exceeds 30 percent of the total number of children taught at such school or location;
(B)
42 U.S.C. 9831 as a full-time staff member in a preschool program carried on under the Head Start Act [ et seq.], or in a prekindergarten or child care program that is licensed or regulated by the State, that is operated for a period which is comparable to a full school year in the locality if the salary of such staff member is not more than the salary of a comparable employee of the local educational agency;
(C)
section 1435(a)(10) of this title as a full-time special education teacher, including teachers of infants, toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school system, including a system administered by an educational service agency, or as a full-time qualified professional provider of early intervention services in a public or other nonprofit program under public supervision by the lead agency as authorized in ;
(D)
as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, for service that qualifies for special pay under section 310, or paragraph (1) or (3) of section 351(a), of title 37 as an area of hostilities;
(E)
22 U.S.C. 250142 U.S.C. 4950 as a volunteer under the Peace Corps Act [ et seq.] or a volunteer under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 [ et seq.];
(F)
section 3006A(g)(2) of title 18 as a full-time law enforcement officer or corrections officer for service to local, State, or Federal law enforcement or corrections agencies, or as a full-time attorney employed in a defender organization established in accordance with ;
(G)
as a full-time teacher of mathematics, science, foreign languages, bilingual education, or any other field of expertise where the State educational agency determines there is a shortage of qualified teachers;
(H)
as a full-time nurse or medical technician providing health care services;
(I)
as a full-time employee of a public or private nonprofit child or family service agency who is providing, or supervising the provision of, services to high-risk children who are from low-income communities and the families of such children;
(J)
as a full-time fire fighter for service to a local, State, or Federal fire department or fire district;
(K)
section 1059c of this title as a full-time faculty member at a Tribal College or University, as that term is defined in ;
(L)
as a librarian, if the librarian has a master’s degree in library science and is employed in—
(i)
20 U.S.C. 6311 an elementary school or secondary school that is eligible for assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [ et seq.]; or
(ii)
a public library that serves a geographic area that contains one or more schools eligible for assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; or
(M)
20 U.S.C. 6301 as a full-time speech language pathologist, if the pathologist has a masters degree and is working exclusively with schools that are eligible for assistance under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [ et seq.].
section 1401 of this titleFor the purpose of this paragraph, the term “children with disabilities” has the meaning set forth in .
(3)
(A)
The percent of a loan which shall be canceled under paragraph (1) of this subsection is—
(i)
in the case of service described in subparagraph (A), (C), (D), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), (L), or (M) of paragraph (2), at the rate of 15 percent for the first or second year of such service, 20 percent for the third or fourth year of such service, and 30 percent for the fifth year of such service;
(ii)
in the case of service described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), at the rate of 15 percent for each year of such service; or
(iii)
in the case of service described in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) at the rate of 15 percent for the first or second year of such service and 20 percent for the third or fourth year of such service.
(B)
If a portion of a loan is canceled under this subsection for any year, the entire amount of interest on such loan which accrues for such year shall be canceled.
(C)
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize refunding of any repayment of a loan.
(4)
For the purpose of this subsection, the term “year” where applied to service as a teacher means academic year as defined by the Secretary.
(5)
The amount of a loan, and interest on a loan, which is canceled under this section shall not be considered income for purposes of title 26.
(6)
42 U.S.C. 12601 No borrower may, for the same volunteer service, receive a benefit under both this section and subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( et seq.).
(7)
An individual with an outstanding loan obligation under this part who performs service of any type that is described in paragraph (2) as in effect on , shall be eligible for cancellation under this section for such service notwithstanding any contrary provision of the promissory note under which the loan or loans were made, and notwithstanding any amendment (or effective date provision relating to any amendment) to this section made prior to the date of such service.
(b)

Reimbursement for cancellation

section 1087hh of this title1

1 See References in Text note below.
The Secretary shall pay to each institution for each fiscal year an amount equal to the aggregate of the amounts of loans from its student loan fund which are canceled pursuant to this section for such year, minus an amount equal to the aggregate of the amounts of any such loans so canceled which were made from Federal capital contributions to its student loan fund provided by the Secretary under . None of the funds appropriated pursuant to section 1087aa(b)  of this title shall be available for payments pursuant to this subsection. To the extent feasible, the Secretary shall pay the amounts for which any institution qualifies under this subsection not later than 3 months after the institution files an institutional application for campus-based funds.

(c)

Special rules

(1)

List

If the list of schools in which a teacher may perform service pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(A) is not available before May 1 of any year, the Secretary may use the list for the year preceding the year for which the determination is made to make such service determination.

(2)

Continuing eligibility

Any teacher who performs service in a school which—
(A)
meets the requirements of subsection (a)(2)(A) in any year; and
(B)
in a subsequent year fails to meet the requirements of such subsection,
2
2 So in original. Probably should be “in such”.
may continue to teach in such school and shall be eligible for loan cancellation pursuant to subsection (a)(1) such  subsequent years.

Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 465Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 405(a)100 Stat. 1451Pub. L. 100–50, § 13(j)101 Stat. 349Pub. L. 100–369, § 7(c)102 Stat. 837Pub. L. 101–476, title IX, § 901(e)104 Stat. 1151Pub. L. 101–647, title XXI, § 2101(a)104 Stat. 4856Pub. L. 102–119, § 26(h)105 Stat. 607Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 465(a)106 Stat. 582Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 102(c)(3)107 Stat. 824Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(f)(12)107 Stat. 2471Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 391(e)(3)108 Stat. 4022Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 465112 Stat. 1728Pub. L. 108–446, title III, § 305(c)(1)118 Stat. 2805Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 465122 Stat. 3267Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 405(5)123 Stat. 1947Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, § 618(e)130 Stat. 2160(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , (b), , ; , , ; –(c), , , 583; , , ; –(14), (k)(7), , , 2486; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 89–1079 Stat. 27section 6301 of this titleThe Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i), (L), (M), is , , . Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 6301 et seq.) of chapter 70 of this title. Part A of title I of the Act is classified generally to part A (§ 6311 et seq.) of subchapter I of chapter 70 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 97–3595 Stat. 499section 9801 of Title 42The Head Start Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B), is subchapter B (§§ 635 to 657) of chapter 8 of subtitle A of title VI of , , , which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 9831 et seq.) of chapter 105 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 87–29375 Stat. 612section 2501 of Title 22The Peace Corps Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(E), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 34 (§ 2501 et seq.) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 93–11387 Stat. 394section 4950 of Title 42The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(E), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 66 (§ 4950 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 101–610104 Stat. 3127section 12501 of Title 42The National and Community Service Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (a)(6), is , , . Subtitle D of title I of the Act is classified generally to division D of subchapter I (§ 12601 et seq.) of chapter 129 of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Section 1087aa of this titlePub. L. 114–105, § 2(a)(1)(B)129 Stat. 2219, referred to in subsec. (b), was amended by , , , which struck out subsec. (b) authorizing appropriations and added a new subsec. (b) authorizing institutions of higher education to make loans.

Codification

section 2(f)(14) of Pub. L. 103–208Pub. L. 102–325Pub. L. 102–325Pub. L. 103–82Amendment by (which was effective as if included in ) was executed to this section as amended by and , to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 465Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 137(b)86 Stat. 277Pub. L. 95–561, title XIII, § 132392 Stat. 2363Pub. L. 96–374, title IV94 Stat. 1440Pub. L. 99–498A prior section 1087ee, , as added , , ; amended , , ; , §§ 442(b)(6), 448(d), (e), title XIII, § 1391(a)(1), , , 1443, 1503, related to cancellation of loans for certain public service, prior to the general revision of this part by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 114–3282016—Subsec. (a)(2)(D). inserted “, or paragraph (1) or (3) of section 351(a),” after “section 310”.

Pub. L. 111–392009—Subsec. (a)(6). substituted “12601” for “12571”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 465(1)(A)2008—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). , added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “as a full-time teacher for service in an academic year in a public or other nonprofit private elementary or secondary school which is in the school district of a local educational agency which is eligible in such year for assistance pursuant to title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and which for the purpose of this paragraph and for that year has been determined by the Secretary (pursuant to regulations and after consultation with the State educational agency of the State in which the school is located) to be a school in which the enrollment of children counted under section 111(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 exceeds 30 percent of the total enrollment of that school;”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 465(1)(B)Subsec. (a)(2)(B). , substituted “Head Start Act, or in a prekindergarten or child care program that is licensed or regulated by the State, that” for “Head Start Act which”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 465(1)(C)Subsec. (a)(2)(C). , inserted “, including a system administered by an educational service agency” after “secondary school system”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 465(1)(D)Subsec. (a)(2)(F). , added subpar. (F) and struck out former subpar. (F) which read as follows: “as a full-time law enforcement officer or corrections officer for service to local, State, or Federal law enforcement or corrections agencies;”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 465(1)(E)Subsec. (a)(2)(J) to (M). –(G), added subpars. (J) to (M).

Pub. L. 110–315, § 465(2)(A)Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(i). , inserted “(D),” after “(C),” and substituted “(I), (J), (K), (L), or (M)” for “or (I)”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 465(2)(B)Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(iii), (iv). –(D), redesignated cl. (iv) as (iii) and struck out former cl. (iii) which read as follows: “in the case of service described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2), not to exceed a total of 50 percent of such loan at the rate of 12½ percent for each year of qualifying service; or”.

Pub. L. 108–446section 1435(a)(10) of this title2004—Subsec. (a)(2)(C). made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .

Pub. L. 105–244, § 465(1)(B)1998—Subsec. (a)(2). , substituted “section 1401” for “section 1401(a)(1)” in concluding provisions.

Pub. L. 105–244, § 465(1)(A)Subsec. (a)(2)(C). , substituted “section 1435(a)(10)” for “section 1476(b)(9)”.

Pub. L. 105–244, § 465(1)(C)Subsec. (a)(7). , added par. (7).

Pub. L. 105–244, § 465(2)Subsec. (b). , inserted at end “To the extent feasible, the Secretary shall pay the amounts for which any institution qualifies under this subsection not later than 3 months after the institution files an institutional application for campus-based funds.”

Pub. L. 103–3821994—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). substituted “title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965” for “chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981”.

Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(k)(7)Pub. L. 102–325, § 465(a)(1)1993—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). , amended . See 1992 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(f)(12)Subsec. (a)(2)(D). , substituted “service” for “services”.

Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(f)(13)Subsec. (a)(2)(F). , struck out “or” after semicolon at end.

Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(f)(14)Subsec. (a)(6). , realigned margin. See Codification note above.

Pub. L. 103–82 added par. (6).

Pub. L. 102–325, § 465(a)(1)Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(k)(7)1992—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). , as amended by , struck out before semicolon at end “and such determination shall not be made with respect to more than 50 percent of the total number of schools in the State receiving assistance under such chapter 1”.

Pub. L. 102–325, § 465(a)(2)Subsec. (a)(2)(C). , amended subpar. (C) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (C) read as follows: “as a full-time teacher of children with disabilities in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school system;”.

Pub. L. 102–325, § 465(a)(3)Subsec. (a)(2)(G) to (I). –(5), added subpars. (G) to (I).

Pub. L. 102–325, § 465(b)Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(i). , substituted “(A), (C), (F), (G), (H), or (I)” for “(A), (C), or (F)”.

Pub. L. 102–325, § 465(c)Subsec. (c). , added subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 102–1191991—Subsec. (a)(2). substituted “1401(a)(1)” for “1401(1)” in last sentence. The references to section 1401 include the substitution of “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” for “Education of the Handicapped Act” in the original.

Pub. L. 101–476, § 901(e)1990—Subsec. (a)(2). , substituted “children with disabilities” for “handicapped children” in two places.

Pub. L. 101–647, § 2101(a)Subsec. (a)(2)(F). , which directed amendment of subsec. (a)(2) by adding at the end a new subpar. (F), was executed by adding subpar. (F) after subpar. (E) and before last sentence to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 101–647, § 2101(b)Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(i). , which directed amendment of subsec. (a)(3)(i) by substituting “(A), (C), or (F)” for “(A) or (C)”, was executed by making the substitution in subsec. (a)(3)(A)(i) to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 100–3691988—Subsec. (a)(5). substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”, which for purposes of codification was translated as “title 26” thus requiring no change in text.

Pub. L. 100–50, § 13(j)(1)1987—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). , (2), substituted “chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981” for “title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965” and “such chapter 1” for “such title I”.

Pub. L. 100–50, § 13(j)(3)section 2809(a)(1) of title 42Subsec. (a)(2)(B). , substituted “the Head Start Act” for “”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–39Pub. L. 110–315section 3 of Pub. L. 111–39section 1001 of this titleAmendment by effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of (), see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–244Pub. L. 105–244section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244section 1001 of this titleAmendment by effective , except as otherwise provided in , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1993 Amendments

Pub. L. 103–208Pub. L. 102–325section 5(a) of Pub. L. 103–208section 1051 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 103–82section 123 of Pub. L. 103–82section 1701 of Title 16Amendment by effective , see , set out as a note under , Conservation.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendments

Pub. L. 101–647, title XXI, § 2101(c)104 Stat. 4856

“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply only to loans made on or after the date of enactment of this Act [] under part E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 [this part].”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 101–476, title X, § 1001104 Stat. 1151

section 1400 of this title“The amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1990 Amendment note set out under ] shall take effect .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–50Pub. L. 99–498section 27 of Pub. L. 100–50section 1001 of this titleAmendment by effective as if enacted as part of the Higher Education Amendments of 1986, , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

section 2 of Pub. L. 99–498section 1001 of this titleSection effective , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note under .

section 405(b) of Pub. L. 99–498section 1087dd of this titleSubsection (a)(2)(E) of this section applicable only to loans made to cover the costs of instruction for periods of enrollment beginning on or after , to individuals who are new borrowers on that date, see , set out as a note under .