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Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program

Jump to: Eligibility | Apply | Award | Timeline | More Information

In 2023, the Howard County Council established a Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program by allocating $225,000 each year for five years to help eligible HCPSS teachers repay their student loans. The program aims to support the recruitment and retention of a diverse group of certificated staff at HCPSS.

Eligibility

Howard County will assist in the repayment of student loans for current full-time, permanent HCPSS employees who are currently assigned to the Howard County Education Association (HCEA) certificated bargaining unit and meet the following criteria:

  • received a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
  • been employed with the HCPSS full-time for 5 school years
  • not currently in default on any student loan
  • incurred at least $20K in student loan debt for any education loan used for undergraduate or graduate study obtained for tuition, educational expenses, or living expenses
  • have a remaining balance of $5K or more on their student loan
  • possesses one of the following certifications:
    • Professional Eligibility Certificate (PEC)
    • Standard Professional Certificate I (SPC I)
    • Standard Professional Certificate II (SPC II)
    • Advanced Professional Certificate (APC)

Apply

The application will be made available during the next application window, which opens in January 2026. More information and exact dates about the program will be released in Fall 2025.

Award

The amount of money awarded to each applicant will be determined by the Howard County government. Applicants will receive an email no later than May 31, 2025 outlining the amount of their award. They will receive their award by check no later than June 30, 2025. Howard County Government will mail the check to the address provided on the application.

The applicant is responsible for applying the award to their student loans. The applicant will be provided a 1099 form and is responsible for any taxes associated with the award.

2024-2025 Program Timeline

Application opens: February 3, 2025
Application closes: March 31, 2025
Award determination notification via email: No later than May 31, 2025
Check mailed by Howard County Government: No later than June 30, 2025

For More Information

Review these FAQs to learn more about the Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program.

Questions about the Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program should be sent to TeachersLoanAssistance@hcpss.org.