Teacher Programs and Sallie Mae

[Mrs. G]

My question involves education law in the State of: Missouri/ Federal Programs.
I am beginning my 5th year of teaching in Missouri. After 5 years the FFEL loans (Stafford, ect) have a program that allows for 17000. in loan forgiveness. I was told to contact my loan servicer (Sallie Mae ) who promptly informed me that my origionation date was 9/30/98, and ALL loans must have been origionated 10/07 /98 or after. Therefore, all of my loans do not qualify for the program.
I have a legal service through my employer, and a few hours built up with MSTA. Will it be a waste of my time to continue this persuit??? How do I find out about appeal routes- Sallie Mae would not help me.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Sallie Mae's program is outlined here.

If you were a full-time teacher for five consecutive academic years in a "low-income" school, you could qualify for a federal loan forgiveness program.

To qualify, you must:

• have taught full time for five consecutive complete academic years in an elementary or secondary school that was designated a "low-income" school by the U.S. Department of Education.

And ...

• At least one of the qualifying years of teaching was after the 1997–1998 academic year.
• Your loan was made before the end of the fifth year of qualifying teaching.
• The school must be public or private nonprofit.