The APLE Loan Assumption Program

What is the APLE?

The APLE is a state-funded, competitive teacher incentive program administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). The APLE program is designed to encourage outstanding students to become teachers and serve in critical teacher shortage areas in California's public elementary and secondary schools.

Under the provisions of the APLE program, CSAC may assume up to $11,000* in outstanding college loan balances. To be eligible, participants must teach in a California public school (K-12) in one of the following (see application for details):

• Designated subject matter areas (mathematics, science, agriculture, business, foreign language, or education specialist instruction (formerly- special education))
• Designated schools serving populations of students from low income families
• Low-performing schools
• Schools serving rural areas
• State special schools
• Schools with a high percentage of emergency permit teachers

*APLE participants who provide the designated teaching service in the areas of math, science, or education specialist instruction in a California public school that is ranked in the lowest 60 percentile of the Academic Performance Index are eligible to receive an additional $1000 per year in loan assumption benefits. APLE participants who provide the designated teaching service in the areas of math, science, or education specialist instruction in a California public school that is ranked in the lowest 20 percentile of the Academic Performance Index are eligible to receive an additional $1000 per year, for a possible total loan assumption benefit of up to $19,000.

Do I qualify for APLE?

• Have completed a minimum of 60 semester, or 90 quarter, undergraduate units prior to the fall term of the year your application is being submitted.
• Be enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate degree or an approved program of professional teacher preparation.
• Be enrolled each term at least half-time through at least the end of the fall term of the year you apply.
• Have received, or have been approved to receive, educational loans issued to students through institutions of higher education; and not be in default or become delinquent in any state or federally insured educational loan.
• Be a U.S. citizen, or eligible non-citizen.
• Not have completed the coursework necessary to obtain an initial teaching credential. An initial teaching credential is defined as a preliminary or clear multiple or single subject teaching credential, unless coming back for an Education Specialist Credential.

How do I apply?

• Complete and applications along with a statement indicating "Why you want to become a teacher" and submit to the Financial Aid Office (University Hall, Room 150).
• Applications will be available during the Fall quarter of every academic year and the deadline is June 23rd of that same academic year.
• Applications are available on our web-site under Applications and Forms or they can be found on the California Student Aid Commission website

Students may submit an application in person or by mail. Please submit your applications to the Financial Aid Office at UH-150 or mail them to our address:

The following are required in order to be considered for APLE program nomination:

1. The APLE Program Application for 2009/2010 academic year
2. Write a paragraph explaining why you want to become a teacher. Include any extracurricular and/or volunteer work you have performed

Applications will be forwarded to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) for review and final approval; notice of approval will come directly from CSAC. This approval frequently takes a number of months. Additional information can be found at the CSAC website.