During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 22-1220 to address Colorado’s educator shortages by helping remove barriers to educator preparation. The law authorizes CDHE to offer loan repayment assistance on qualified loans for licensed K-12 Colorado educators, principal's and special service providers. Priority will be given to those who serve in rural and hard-to-fill positions in Colorado.
This program has been expanded by HB23-1001 during the 2023 legislative session.
Those who qualify can receive up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness for a given year. The program is funded for two years. Individuals who continue to qualify may apply every year of the program for up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness annually.
Program is closed and no longer accepting applications
- Who Can Apply
Applicants must be an educator: defined as teacher, principal, or special service provider in a qualified position and have a qualified Federal Student Loan (private loans may be eligible upon review).
*Qualified position is defined as a) hard-to-staff educator position in a rural district or rural School, or in a facility school that is in a rural school district, identified by the department of education. b) A hard-to-staff educator position in a content shortage area in a Colorado public school, a school operated by a board of cooperative services, or a facility school (c) an educator position in a Colorado Public School, a school operated by a school operated by a board of cooperative services, or a facility school.
If more new participants apply than can be approved, then CDHE will use the following priority list:
All applicants with a Federal Student Loan will be qualified using the following priority list:
First, CDHE will approve applicants who have contracted for a qualified position in a rural district or rural School. Second, CDHE will approve applicants who have contracted for a qualified position in a content shortage area. Third, CDHE will approve applicants who have contract for a qualified position in a Colorado Public School, A school operated by a board of cooperative services or a facility school.
In approving applications for each pool of candidates listed above CCHE will first consider Colorado Licensed teachers and length of time employed under the license – beginning with those who have been employed the shortest amount of time.
Temporary Educator Loan Forgiveness Program Booklet - English | Spanish
- How to Apply
Submit an application to tuition.io Application
After submitting the application, link your loans through tuition.io.
For technical assistance, including if you need a link giving you access to the detailed part of the application from tuition.io or need a password reset, please contact: EdLoanForgiveness@tuition.io
As part of the application, you are required to have your employer fill out an Employment Verification Form. You may access the file here.
Program Flyer / Program Flyer- SPANISH
Financial Wellness Support (including help navigating the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, counseling to find the best student loan repayment strategy for your situation and more) will also be made available free of charge to up to 3,000 loan forgiveness applicants through tuition.io.
- Questions
Answers to FAQ can be found in the Program's Informational Booklet.
If you have any additional questions about the program or you find a link on this page is broken, please contact:
EdLoanForgiveness@dhe.state.co.us
For technical assistance with the application, please contact:
- Additional Educator Funding Resources
Additional Educator Funding Opportunities List
Colorado Center for Rural Education: For information about stipends available to rural educators, please see the Colorado Center for Rural Education’s website: https://www.unco.edu/colorado-center-for-rural-education/stipends/. Stipends are available for rural student teachers, in-service educators, alternative licensure candidates, National Board certification candidates, and/or substitute teachers.
Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs for Educators: There are 4 Federal Loan Forgiveness programs for educators. Please see the following website for more information: https://studentaid.gov/articles/teacher-loan-forgiveness-options/.
