“An individual may be able to cancel up to $5,000 of his/her Stafford Loans if he/she teaches in a low-income school and is a new borrower,” the Congressman said.  “A new borrower is someone who received his or her first Stafford loan on or after October 1, 1998.  In order to qualify, it is also my understanding that an individual must work as a full-time teacher for five consecutive years in an elementary or high school that has been designated as low-income.”   

       “I have been informed by the U.S. Department of Education that there are 37 schools in American Samoa designated as low-income.  These schools include Afono, Alataua-Lua, Alofau, Aua, Aunuufou, Faasao High School, Fagaitua High School, Faleasao, Fitiuta, Happy Valley Baptist, Laulii, Le’atele, Leone High School, Leone Midkiff, Lupelele, Manu’a High School, Manulele, Manumalo Baptist, Marist Brother Elementary School, Marist Brother’s High School, Masefau Elementary, Matafao Elementary, Matatula Elementary, Mauga-o-Alava Elementary, Nuuli Technical High School, Ofu/Olosega Elementary, Olomoana Elementary, Pago Pago Elementary, Pavaia’i Elementary, Poloa, Saint Francis School, Saint Theresa’s School, Samoana High School, SDA Elementary School, Siliaga Elementary, South Pacific Academy Elementary, and Tafuna High School.”

       “Other teachers who may be eligible for cancellation of loans include those who teach in an elementary or high school that has a shortage of teachers in a designated subject and also teachers of disabled students in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school,” the Congressman said.

       “I want to encourage all qualifying elementary and secondary teachers in the Territory to take advantage of this opportunity to cancel out either their Perkins or Stafford student loans.  For complete conditions and instructions on how to apply for cancellation of a Stafford Loan or a Perkins Loan, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s web-site at http://www.ed.gov.  Or, contact my office in Washington or Utulei and I will do all I can to help you,” the Congressman concluded.