The Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation of West Des Moines has introduced a new loan forgiveness program for Iowa teachers.

This new program is designed to give incentives to teachers who stay in Iowa and specialize in areas that are in serious need of educators, such as math, science and special education. The $10 million program allows corporation borrowers $9,000 in loan forgiveness during a period of five years.

Some ISU education students are pleased with the policy, although they would prefer higher salaries.

“I think its a good start,” said Alyssa Calhoun, junior in elementary education.

Calhoun said teachers must have a passion for their area, and that this policy may reduce the amount of passionate teachers because of financial motivation.

“One concern that I have is that people will go into an area like guidance or math when their hearts are not in it,” Calhoun said.

Mack Shelley, university professor of educational leadership and policy studies, said it has been difficult for Iowa in the past to encourage college students to study education in these areas, and even more difficult to keep them within the state once they have graduated.

“I think a bigger paycheck would be more appealing to possible teachers than loan forgiveness,” he said.

Iowa currently ranks 41st in average salary for teachers. Many teachers leave Iowa for other states where they can receive better pay. Students in education also typically spend an extra semester or two in school, which compounds their debt load.

Some are skeptical of this solution and think it may be a quick fix rather than an effective change.

“Although it is a quicker fix, I don’t know whether it will produce a lot more teachers instantly,” Shelly said.

Jackie Blount, associate dean for the College of Human Sciences, is confident that the loan forgiveness will be a good tool for lessening the problem of teacher shortages in math, science and other areas.

“This kind of loan forgiveness program is especially helpful for teachers who will have lower salaries and who will need that assistance in paying back any other debts that they might have acquired,” she said. “Generally, this is a tremendously helpful program for students.”

Blount said the policy will also help encourage students in other fields to consider becoming teachers within their disciplines.

“There are a number of people who would be phenomenal teachers, but who don’t always consider going into [teaching] right away because of the financial issues,” he said. “This might be just enough to tip them over the edge and to choose to pursue teaching.”