What grant and loan forgiveness programs are available to speech-language pathologists after ED policy changes?

1. What SLPs have long relied on: PSLF and teacher‑related federal options

Speech‑language pathologists who work full time for qualifying government or nonprofit employers remain explicitly eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness if they meet the three core criteria—employment, loan type, and repayment plan—and complete 120 qualifying payments under a qualifying repayment plan ^{[1] [2]}. In addition, teacher‑targeted federal programs (Teacher Loan Forgiveness and some Perkins cancellations) can forgive limited amounts—e.g., up to $17,500 for certain special‑education teachers after five years—which may apply to SLPs who meet the program’s teacher or related‑service definitions and work in designated low‑income schools ^{[3] [10]}.

2. State and employer forgivable loans and repayment programs — a patchwork safety net

Many states and districts operate SLP‑specific or educator forgivable loan programs that exchange service in public schools for partial or full discharge of educational debt: examples include Mississippi’s SLPL program (forgiveness at one year served per year of funding) and South Carolina’s Teacher Loan Program (20% forgiven per year of public‑school employment until full forgiveness) ^{[4] [5]}. Private employers or therapy groups may also offer loan‑repayment benefits or pay‑down programs, which vary widely in size and eligibility ^{[11] [12]}.

3. New federal rule changes and grant cancellations that could shrink future pathways

Since 2025 the Department of Education has pursued policy changes that tighten the definition of qualifying public‑service employers for PSLF and has issued a final rule described as “restoring” PSLF to priority public‑sector roles; the department said it aims to exclude organizations that “engage in activities that have a substantial illegal purpose” or otherwise fall outside its new definition ^[6]. Reporting shows the rulemaking and agency reviews could block forgiveness for employees of nonprofits serving undocumented immigrants or providing gender‑transition care for minors—categories explicitly cited in press reporting—potentially affecting some nonprofit SLP employers ^[7].

4. IDEA grant cancellations and the downstream effect on school‑based SLP jobs

The Education Department’s 2025 actions to reassess and in some cases cancel competitive IDEA Part D grants have already led to terminated programs and reduced funding in certain states; California was reported to lose roughly $3.5 million in special‑education teacher‑preparation grants because four Part D projects were terminated, and national reporting shows dozens of Part D awards were reviewed or canceled ^{[8] [9]}. ASHA and advocacy groups warn that such grant changes and staff reductions at the Department could shrink supports that help districts hire and retain school‑based SLPs, which in turn can change the supply of qualifying PSLF employers ^{[13] [14]}.

5. What’s available today vs. what sources say about funding uncertainty

Available sources confirm SLPs can still pursue PSLF and teacher‑linked forgiveness and that many state programs remain in place ^{[1] [3] [4]}. But reporting also documents active administrative rule changes and grant cancellations that create real uncertainty about which employers will count for PSLF and whether federal discretionary grants that underwrite SLP training and positions will continue at prior levels ^{[6] [7] [9] [8]}.

6. Practical steps for SLPs navigating the changing landscape

Based on the reporting, SLPs should (a) verify employer PSLF eligibility with the Department’s PSLF Help Tool and retain employment certification paperwork ^{[1] [2]}, (b) check state and district forgivable‑loan programs for explicit SLP eligibility and service‑forgiveness schedules ^{[4] [5]}, and (c) monitor ED announcements and professional‑association alerts (e.g., ASHA) because grant cancellations or new PSLF rules can change employer‑eligibility and the availability of training grants that seed school SLP roles ^{[13] [6]}.

Limitations and divergent perspectives: reporting agrees that PSLF and many state programs remain options for SLPs, but the Department of Education asserts it is narrowing PSLF to its intended public‑service core ^[6] while investigative reporting and advocacy groups warn that the rule and grant cancellations may exclude workers at nonprofits serving vulnerable populations or shrink special‑education capacity ^{[7] [8] [9]}. Available sources do not mention specific lists of SLP employers that will be newly disqualified under the final PSLF rule—borrowers must consult ED guidance and their servicer for employer‑specific determinations (not found in current reporting).