Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)
Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 17 Democratic cosponsors · See all 17 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026 aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support educators. The bill provides enhanced student loan relief through loan forgiveness and cancellation programs. These benefits are available to qualifying educators who provide service in high need schools or early childhood education programs. After completing five years of qualifying service, the Secretary assumes the obligation to repay or cancels 100 percent of the aggregate covered loans. Additionally, the bill allows for monthly loan relief during the period of qualifying service.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +9
Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay?
The act specifically targets the elimination of debt burdens for educators through service.
- Scored +8
Does this make college cost less?
The bill provides significant relief through loan forgiveness and cancellation for qualifying educators.
- Scored +7
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The bill provides significant debt relief which primarily benefits those in the early stages of their careers.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill requires the Secretary to assume loan obligations and cancel debt, which increases government outlays.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Debt Relief for Educators: Qualifying educators who complete five years of service can have 100 percent of their aggregate covered loans, including interest and fees, forgiven or assumed by the Secretary (Section 2(a)(c)(1) and Section 2(b)(c)(1)).
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Ongoing Financial Relief: During the period of service, the Secretary will assume the minimum monthly obligation on covered loans, which serves as a monthly payment considered paid in full (Section 2(a)(c)(2) and Section 2(b)(c)(2)).
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Support for Families: Parent plus loans issued on behalf of a student who is a qualifying educator, or loans borrowed by a parent who is a qualifying educator, can qualify for these benefits (Section 2(a)(c)(4) and Section 2(b)(c)(4)).
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Inclusivity for Language Educators: Educators providing instruction in certain Native languages, such as Alaska Native, American Indian, or Native Hawaiian, can be considered qualifying educators regardless of whether they have achieved full State or Tribal certification (Section 2(i)).
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Flexibility for Career Progression: Educators who are promoted to another position within their qualifying program or school can continue to count that employment toward their service requirements (Section 2(g)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Benefit Restrictions: Qualifying educators are prohibited from receiving benefits under this act if they are already receiving benefits under section 428K or specific parts of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (Section 2(g)(2)).
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No Retroactive Refunds: The act explicitly states that it does not authorize the refunding of any previous loan repayments (Section 2(a)(e) and Section 2(b)(e)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes specific provisions for educators serving in Bureau of Indian Education schools and Tribal programs. Would students be better off under this? — The bill provides a clear pathway to total loan relief through service, benefiting current and future students entering the profession. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill provides significant debt relief which primarily benefits those in the early stages of their careers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Educators often fall into middle-income brackets and will benefit from reduced loan obligations. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Debt cancellation provides financial relief to educators serving in high-need schools which often serve low-income populations.
- Education And Technology
- Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — The act specifically targets the elimination of debt burdens for educators through service. Does this make college cost less? — The bill provides significant relief through loan forgiveness and cancellation for qualifying educators.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill aims to enhance access to a stable educator workforce by relieving debt burdens. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill requires the Secretary to assume loan obligations and cancel debt, which increases government outlays.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — Reducing student debt can improve the overall financial stability of households.
- 10/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/6/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/19/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
5 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
J. CorreaDemocrat · California
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Mark DeSaulnierDemocrat · California
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Jahana HayesDemocrat · Connecticut
Chrissy HoulahanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Robert MenendezDemocrat · New Jersey
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Chellie PingreeDemocrat · Maine
Scott PetersDemocrat · California
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan