Student Loan Repayment Program

Application Instructions

• FY25 Student Loan Repayment Program Application Instructions
• FY25 Student Loan Repayment Program Loan Documentation Guidance Application Requirements

Application Requirements

To submit a successful application, individuals will be required to:

• provide full name, valid e-mail address, and Personnel Identification Code (PIC) number,
• correctly identify the name of their employing district (intermediate school district, traditional school district, or public school academy),
• accurately report the amount of current loan payments made under qualifying Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) loan types or payment plans as well as the amounts of payments made between 10/1/24 and the time of application,
• upload required documentation establishing both participation in PSLF and matching the payment information provided in the application, and
• certify they meet all eligibility criteria under statute (see below), and that all information provided is correct and accurate. 

Since individual applicants will be required to provide their PIC, MDE strongly recommends the following for individuals preparing to submit their applications:

• Use of the MOECS public search tool here: Michigan Online Educator Certification System. Individuals can search using their name and credential number to see their PIC number.

• Contact the employing district’s HR or administrative staff to confirm correct PIC number or to request a PIC as described above.

NOTE: All staff employed by a school or district must have a PIC, regardless of position, title, or certification/permit status.

Updates for FY25

• Individual district staff members interested in receiving payments for FY25 must submit a successful and accurate application for the Student Loan Repayment Program by May 19, 2025, using the application link above.
• Since eligibility requirements were updated in statute, participation in FY24 (formerly known as “Cohort 1”) does not mean eligibility for FY25.
• Therefore, all individuals wishing to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program must apply for FY25 using the link above, regardless of participation in the previous year (FY24).
• Intermediate school districts (ISDs) and local education agencies (LEAs), both traditional public school districts and public school academies (PSAs) employing those applicants will be required to verify employment information using the information provided on the application system during a separate employment verification window. If employment cannot be verified by the individual’s employer, an individual’s application will be disqualified.
• New or updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will be posted to this site at the link above regarding the application system and payments made under the Student Loan Repayment Program.

Updated Resource: 27k FY25 Eligibility Checklist

Click on the image below to access an updated checklist that will help both individual applicants and their employers determine participant eligibility. Use this resource in addition to the information included below to guide you in understanding what information will be required at the time of application.

• 27k Eligibility Checklist

IMPORTANT: Please do NOT send any participant loan documentation to the Michigan Department of Education via e-mail.  Sending participant loan documentation introduces a potential security risk, especially if there is personally identifiable information (PII) included.

As shown on the updated 27k Eligibility Checklist linked above, individuals must provide documentation demonstrating the following eligibility criteria for each participating district staff member:

• The individual must owe federal student loans.
• The individual must be enrolled in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, pursuant to federal law, and is in a payment plan that makes eligible payments toward federal public service loan forgiveness. 
• The individual must be enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan. The individual may be exempt from this requirement if their loan is not eligible for income-driven repayment. 
• The individual must currently work 32 hours or more per week for their employer.
• The individual must work in a role where direct contact with pre-K to 12 students comprises 50% or more of their working time.

For more information about PSLF, qualifying loans, and repayment plans, visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness webpage.

• The maximum payment available to any eligible individual is $200.00 per month, or if the individual is employed in a district or intermediate district that is assigned to Band 6 in the Opportunity Index, up to $400.00 per month, for the duration of the program or the total amount of the eligible district staff member’s monthly federal student loan payment or whichever is less. (See our Frequently Asked Questions for more information on the Band 6 of the Opportunity Index.)
• Payments to eligible individuals must be made on a monthly basis in an amount specified by the department. 
• Payments to an eligible individual must be made for no more than 10 years or until the eligible participant's federal student loan is paid off, whichever occurs earlier.
• Eligible individuals must only receive funding through the program if the eligible participant continues to meet the criteria of an eligible district staff member.
• Individual participants continue to be responsible for certifying to MDE: 
  • that they made payments toward their eligible federal student loan with the funding received through this program,
  • if the individual leaves the program, on the date they left the program, that they made payments toward their eligible federal student loan with the funding received through this program, and
  • any increases or decreases in their monthly payment toward the eligible federal student loan.

• Districts will not be applying on behalf of their employees this year. Instead, please point all interested employees to this website, especially the sections regarding eligibility, instructions for application, and the requirement to apply for FY25, regardless of participation in FY24.
• It is expected that districts will be required to verify employment details required by statute, during a separate window announced at a later time (see above).
• Districts will still be required to:
  • receive Grant Award Notification (GANs) from MDE,
  • receive funds from MDE for the purpose of paying eligible participants along with regular State Aid payments,
  • pass accurate payments to eligible participants,
  • keep accurate records on payments made, and
  • report to the MDE any “leftover” or “excess” funds during a reconciliation window to be announced.

• Districts will use name, date of birth, and PIC number to assist in the process of verifying employment details.
• See our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for information on finding out whether a district is in the Band 6 of the Opportunity Index.