FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 1, 2008
For More Information Contact:
Jonathan Burman or Tom Dunn at (518) 474-1201
Internet: http://www.nysed.gov
CONGRESS EXPANDS LOAN FORGIVENESS
PROGRAMS TO TEACHERS IN BOCES
The Higher Education Opportunity Act, which reauthorizes the Higher Education Act (HEA) and was approved this week by Congress, includes provisions that will make teachers employed by New York's Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and other educational service agencies across the country eligible for current federal loan forgiveness programs. The expansion covers loan forgiveness under the Family, Direct, and Perkins loan programs.
Leading the charge in Congress on behalf of BOCES teachers were members of New York's delegation who sit on the House and Senate Education Committees – Representatives Yvette D. Clarke, Carolyn McCarthy, Timothy Bishop, John R. Kuhl, Jr., and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Together they were successful in securing approval for one of the Regents top HEA reauthorization priorities.
State Education Commissioner Richard P. Mills said, “The Regents and I would like to thank the delegation members for ensuring that BOCES teachers are afforded the same opportunities as their counterparts in school buildings and for their continuing leadership and commitment to education in New York State."
James Baldwin, District Superintendent for Questar III BOCES said, "On behalf of my colleagues in the State's 37 BOCES, I express appreciation to the Regents, Commissioner Mills and the members of the New York State Congressional delegation for securing this important benefit for our BOCES teachers."
BOCES teachers had been excluded from the loan forgiveness programs due to a congressional oversight. Previously, the programs were available only to teachers in "schools" and BOCES are defined as "educational service agencies" in federal law. Aides for the Education Committee Chairs said it was not Congress' intent to exclude such teachers.
New York's 37 BOCES employ approximately 6400 full-time teachers. More than half teach students with disabilities; 25 percent teach general academic courses and 23 percent teach courses in career and technical education.