Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced
Summary
100% loan forgiveness after five years for educators who serve in high‑need K–12 schools, Bureau of Indian Education sites, tribal or Native Hawaiian systems, or qualifying early childhood programs. The bill would also have the Education Department make monthly payments on covered loans during service and stop interest from accruing while educators work.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Major loan relief for educators
If enacted, the bill would cancel 100% of covered Federal Direct and eligible FFEL loan balances for qualifying educators after five years of qualifying service. The five years may be consecutive or nonconsecutive and the Secretary must set up the programs within 270 days after enactment. While you are doing qualifying service, the Department would assume your minimum monthly payment, count those months as qualifying payments, and stop interest from accruing. Some Parent PLUS loans would qualify if taken for a qualifying educator, and prior service or prior forgiveness can count under the new rules.
Required outreach to educators
If enacted, the Secretary of Education would be required to inform schools, early childhood programs, tribal education systems, and borrowers about the new rules. The outreach would be done in coordination with HHS and must occur within 180 days after the programs start. Materials would explain how loans and service from before enactment may count toward the new benefits.
Faster rulemaking, fewer formal talks
If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary of Education skip negotiated rulemaking when making regulations under this Act. That could speed up implementing the educator loan programs. It would also reduce formal negotiation steps for stakeholders who normally participate in negotiated rulemaking.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/1/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov