WRTR – Winter-Reed Teacher Loan Repayment Program
Program Overview:
The Winter-Reed Teacher Loan Repayment Program (WRTR) is designed to help new teachers repay their undergraduate student loans. Only first-year teachers holding a valid standard five-year Mississippi educator’s license are eligible to apply as new recipients. Second-year and third-year teachers are eligible to apply as renewal recipients.
Eligible recipients must work full-time as a teacher or librarian in a Mississippi public school district.
Only 150 first-year teachers will be awarded each year. Selection shall be made on a first-come, first-served basis of all eligible applicants who apply by the deadline date. However, priority will be given to teachers in geographical shortage areas.
The annual award scale is as follows:
| Contracted in a Geographical Critical Shortage | Area Contracted in a Non-Shortage Area | |
| First-Year Teacher | $4,000 | $1,500 |
| Second-Year Teacher | $5,000 | $2,500 |
| Third-Year Teacher | $6,000 | $3,500 |
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
WAIT! If you don’t qualify for Winter-Reed because you aren’t a “new” teacher, you may still be eligible for loan forgiveness through the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
If you have worked in public service (federal, state, local, tribal government or a non-profit organization) for 10 years or more (even if not consecutively), you may be eligible to have all your student debt cancelled. If you have not yet served 10 years, you may still get credit toward forgiveness.
Visit the PSLF website to learn more.
Because this is a federal program, SFA is unable to answer questions or provide additional assistance.
Rules and Regulations:
Important Dates:
Application deadline: September 15 of the teacher’s first year of teaching
Document deadline: October 15 of the teacher’s first year of teaching
Awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis. However, priority will be given to teachers in geographical critical shortage areas.
Initial Eligibility:
- Hold a valid standard five-year Mississippi educator’s license.
- Be under contract as a teacher or librarian in a Mississippi public school district. Teachers in a geographical critical shortage area will be given priority.
- Be a first-year (ever) teacher.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have undergraduate student loans in your name. Perkins and Graduate-level loans do not qualify.
- Must not be currently in default or delinquent on any federal, state, or local educational loan.
- Must not have received funds from the Critical Needs Teacher Forgivable Loan Program, the William Winter Teacher Forgivable Loan Program, or the Teacher Education Scholars Forgivable Loan Program.
Award Amount and Length of Eligibility:
- Award offers will be made shortly after the application deadlines pass each year.
- Awards will be paid at the end of each school year.
- First-year recipients working in a non-shortage area receive up to $1,500 annually; first-year recipients working in a critical shortage area receive up to $4,000 annually.
- Second-year recipients working in a non-shortage area receive up to $2,500 annually; second-year recipients working in a critical shortage area receive up to $5,000 annually.
- Third-year recipients working in a non-shortage area receive up to $3,500 annually; third-year recipients working in a critical shortage area receive up to $6,000 annually.
- Awards are paid directly to the loan servicer.
- Recipients may receive WRTR for up to three years.
- WRTR recipients are not eligible for any other state aid.
To Apply – Part One:
- Complete the online application. The online application must be completed each and every academic year for which the applicant seeks aid.
- Submit a copy of your valid standard five-year Mississippi educator’s license (a three-year alternate route license, one-year alternate route license, or one-year emergency certificate do not qualify).
- Submit a copy of your current teaching contract.
Award offers will be made shortly after the application deadlines pass based on the information provided in Part One of the application process.
To Apply – Part Two:
- Complete and submit the Contract Completion Form between April 1 and June 30.
Awards will be disbursed directly to the loan servicer at the end of the contract year upon receipt of the Contract Completion Form.
How to Submit Supporting Documents
Frequently Asked Question:
- Do I still need to make payments on my undergraduate loans after I have been offered an award?
Yes. However, SFA will provide you with an award offer letter (upon request) that you can present to your servicer, and your servicer may defer payments. - I consolidated my loans. Do I still qualify for the program?
Yes. If you consolidated your undergraduate loans, just list your current loan servicer on the application.
