COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
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Statement of Introduction
Student Loan Repayment Assistance for Educators Act of 2023
September 26, 2023
Today, along with Councilmembers Charles Allen, Kenyan R. McDuffie, Vincent C. Gray,
Janeese Lewis George, Zachary Parker, Brooke Pinto, Robert C. White, Jr., and Matthew
Frumin, I am introducing the Student Loan Repayment Assistance for Educators Act of 2023.
This legislation would create a loan repayment program for public school educators who meet
certain residency, income, and employment requirements.
Educators are the backbone of our democracy. Day by day, they mold students into informed,
creative citizens. Educators work tirelessly, often taking on multiple roles in a school to ensure
student success. In advancing the District’s goal of attracting qualified and passionate educators
to teach in its schools, the Council must consider all approaches, particularly those that address
the concerns that educators cite as important in deciding where to teach.
While the average public school educator salary in the District is in the top decile of those in the
United States, the cost of living in the District diminishes the attractiveness of a comparatively
strong salary. As student loan repayment requirements restart this month, educators’ gross
income will decrease even more. Educators’ student loan burdens are significant. The average
student loan debt in the District is $54,945, which is just under the annual salary for a first-time
teacher in the District. Nationally, educators borrowed an average of $55,800 and still owe an
average $5,700 in student loan debt.
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Data also shows that age and race play a significant role in the impact, amount, and payment of
student loans.
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Younger educators have more student loan debt than older educators and are
more likely to take out loans than older educators due to rising tuition costs. Of educators aged
18-35, 42% have taken out $65,000 or more in student loans, compared to 13% of those 61 and
up. Over two-thirds of older educators said that student loan repayments have made it difficult to
save for retirement.
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When factoring in race, data shows that 56% of all Black educators have
taken out student loans compared to 44% of White educators.
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Additionally, Black educators
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The Depth of Educators’ College Debt, NEA
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Student Loan Debt Among Educators: A National Crisis, NEA
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Ibid.
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Ibid.
Christina Henderson Committee Member
Councilmember, At-Large Hospital and Health Equity
Chairperson, Committee on Health Judiciary and Public Safety
Transportation and the Environment
COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
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took on significantly more debt than other groups, with an average initial total of $6,300 among
those who took out loans, compared to $54,300 for White educators and $56,400 for Latino
educators.
To address the unique financial stress of educators, this bill would establish a loan repayment
assistance program for educators. The program would be administered by OSSE, in consultation
with the Student Loan Ombudsman. The District currently has locally administered student loan
repayment programs for other high-need professions like healthcare workers.
The Council is committed to doing its part to attract passionate educators to teach in District
schools. This bill addresses the equity gaps in the financial burden that educators are required to
take on to obtain the degrees that are necessary to teach our students. I look forward to working
with my colleagues on the Council to pass this legislation.
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Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Christina Henderson 2
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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Vincent C. Gray 6
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Councilmember Janeese Lewis George Councilmember Zachary Parker 10
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Councilmember Brooke Pinto Councilmember Matthew Frumin 14
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Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 18
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A BILL 22
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 27
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To establish a student loan debt repayment assistance program for educators who teach and 32
reside in the District. 33
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 35
act may be cited as the “Student Loan Repayment Assistance for Educators Act of 2023”. 36
Sec. 2. Definitions. 37
For the purposes of this act, the term: 38
(1) “Educator” means a principal, assistant principal, teacher, assistant teacher, or 39
a paraprofessional who is employed by or has accepted an offer of employment with the District 40
of Columbia Public Schools or a public charter school. 41 2
(2) “Federal income-driven repayment plan” refers to any repayment option 42
available to federal student loan borrowers in which payments are determined based on a 43
percentage of the borrower’s discretionary income, including the income-based repayment plan, 44
the Saving on a Valuable Education (“SAVE”) plan, and the income-contingent repayment plan. 45
(3) “Income” means the total adjusted gross income of the applicant and the 46
applicant’s spouse, if applicable. 47
(4) “OSSE” means the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. 48
(5) “Program” means the District of Columbia Student Loan Forgiveness Program 49
established pursuant to this act. 50
(6) “Student education loan” means any loan primarily obtained for personal use 51
to finance post-secondary education or other school related expenses. 52
Sec. 3. Establishment of Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Program. 53
(a) There is established the District of Columbia Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Program 54
(“program”), which shall be administered by OSSE, in consultation with the Student Loan 55
Ombudsperson, established pursuant to section 7a of the Department of Insurance and Securities 56
Regulation Establishment Act of 1996, effective February 18, 2017 (D.C. Law 21-214; D.C. 57
Official Code § 31-106.01). 58
(b) The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for educators to receive 59
economic relief in the form of student loan repayment assistance. 60
(c) An applicant who meets the eligibility requirements outlined in section 4 shall be 61
eligible to receive a monthly payment up to their monthly federal income-driven repayment plan 62
payment for up to 60 months; provided, that the recipient shall not receive the monthly payment 63
for any period of time in which the recipient has been granted a deferment or forbearance of their 64
monthly federal income-driven repayment plan payment. 65 3
(d) OSSE, in consultation with the Student Loan Ombudsman, shall: 66
(1) Establish an application process; 67
(2) Conduct regular surveys to ensure participant compliance with the program; 68
(3) Disburse monthly payments to participants in the program; and 69
(4) Perform any other functions necessary for the program’s administration. 70
Sec. 4. Eligibility requirements. 71
(a) To be eligible to receive payment under the program, an applicant shall: 72
(1) Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; 73
(2) Be an educator in the District; 74
(3) Have enrolled in a post-secondary institution after January 1, 2024; 75
(4) Have outstanding debt on a student education loan; 76
(5) Apply for payment under this program within 2 years of ceasing to be enrolled 77
as a full or half-time student at a post-secondary institution; 78
(6) Have their loans enrolled in a federal income-driven repayment plan with the 79
lowest monthly payment amount and where the monthly payment amount is tied to a percentage 80
of the participant’s discretionary income; 81
(7) Have an adjusted gross income that is less than or equal to $75,000, if 82
unmarried or married and filing their federal income tax return as an individual, or less than or 83
equal to $95,000, if married and filing a joint federal income tax return; and 84
(8) Be a resident of the District. 85
Sec. 5. Application. 86
(a) An applicant shall apply to the program by submitting the following to OSSE: 87
(1) A completed application in a form and manner prescribed by OSSE and 88
signed under penalty of perjury; 89 4
(2) If employed, verification of employment, which shall include a paystub or the 90
applicant’s most recent W-2 form; and 91
(3) Any other information OSSE considers necessary as prescribed by rules issued 92
pursuant to section 6. 93
Sec. 6. Rulemaking. 94
OSSE, pursuant to Title of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, 95
approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-501 et. seq.) shall issue rules 96
to implement the provisions of this act within 180 days of the effective date of this act. 97
Sec. 7. Fiscal impact statement. 98
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 99
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 100
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 101
Sec. 8. Effective date. 102
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 103
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 104
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 105
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 106
Columbia Register. 107