<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 4.6

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE, THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
TRANSFERRED, IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART, ONLY TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE SECURITIES
DEPOSITORY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE) OR TO A SUCCESSOR SECURITIES DEPOSITORY
OR TO A NOMINEE OF A SUCCESSOR SECURITIES DEPOSITORY.

                        Education Funding Capital Trust-I
                     Auction Rate Education Loan Backed Note
                                 Series 2002 A1

Registered                                                           Registered
No. A1-                                                           $
       ---                                                         -------------

Maturity Date     Interest Rate      Original Issue Date   CUSIP No.
-------------   ------------------   -------------------   ---------
 June 1, 2042   As Herein Provided                , 2003
                                      -------- ---         ---------

PRINCIPAL SUM:                                             DOLLARS
                  ----------------------------------------
NOTEHOLDER:       CEDE & CO.

     EDUCATION FUNDING CAPITAL TRUST-I, a business trust formed under the laws
of the State of Delaware (the "Issuer"), for value received, hereby promises to
pay to CEDE & CO. (the "Noteholder") or registered assigns,
                                                            --------------------
DOLLARS (the "Principal Sum"), but solely from the revenues and receipts
hereinafter specified and not otherwise, on June 1, 2042 (the "Maturity Date")
(subject to the right of prior redemption hereinafter described), upon
presentation and surrender of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Indenture Trustee, as paying agent for the Notes, or a duly appointed successor
paying agent, and to pay interest in arrears on said Principal Sum, but solely
from the revenues and receipts hereinafter specified and not otherwise, to the
Noteholder hereof from the most recent Payment Date to which interest has been
paid hereon, until the payment in full of the Principal Sum.

     Any capitalized words and terms used as defined words and terms in this
Note and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in
the Indenture of Trust, dated as of May 1, 2002 (the "Indenture") among the
Issuer, Fifth Third Bank, as Indenture Trustee, and Fifth Third Bank, as Trust
Eligible Lender Trustee, as amended and supplemented by the 2002-2 Series A&B
Supplemental Indenture of Trust, dated as of August 1, 2002 (the "2002-2 Series
A&B Supplemental Indenture"), among the Issuer, Fifth Third Bank, as Indenture
Trustee, and Fifth Third Bank, as Trust Eligible Lender Trustee, and as amended
and supplemented by the 2002 Series A1&B1 Supplemental Indenture of Trust dated
as of            , 2003 (the "2002 Series A1&B1 Supplemental Indenture") among
      ------- ---
the Issuer, Fifth Third Bank, as Indenture Trustee, and Fifth Third Bank, as
Trust Eligible Lender Trustee.

     This Note shall bear interest at an Auction Rate, all as determined in
Appendix A of the 2002 Series A1&B1 Supplemental Indenture. The principal of and
interest on this Note are payable in lawful money of the United States of
America. Interest payable on this Note shall be computed on the assumption that
each year contains 360 days and actual days elapsed.

     This Note is one of a Series of Notes of the Issuer designated as Auction
Rate Education Loan Backed Notes, Series 2002 A1-   , dated               , 2003
                                                 ---        ---------- ---
(the "Issue Date"), in the original aggregate principal amount of
$_______________ (the "Series A1-    Notes"), which have been authorized and
                                 ---
issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture and the 2002 Series A1&B1
Supplemental Indenture. The Issuer is, simultaneously with the issuance of the
Series A1-    Notes, issuing $____,____,____ of its Auction Rate Education Loan
          ---
Backed Notes, Series 2002 A1(the "Series A1 Notes"), in twelve other classes,
and $____,____,____ of its Auction Rate Education Loan Backed Notes, Series 2002

B1 (the "Series B1 Notes"), in two classes. This Note is one of a Series of
Registered Notes exchanged for Unregistered Notes of the same Series and
aggregate principal amount that have been properly tendered and accepted in
connection with the consummation of the Exchange Offer. The Issuer will not
receive any proceeds in connection with the exchange, issuance and delivery of
such Registered Notes.

     The Indenture provides for the issuance of additional Notes (the
"Additional Notes"), which may be secured on a parity with or subordinate to the
Series A1 Notes and secured senior to, on a parity with or subordinate to the
Series B1 Notes, all as determined by the Issuer. The Series A1 Notes, the
Series B1 Notes, any Outstanding Unregistered Notes and any Additional Notes are
collectively referred to herein as the "Notes."

     This Note is subject to mandatory redemption and optional redemption, all
as described in the Indenture. Notice of the call for redemption shall be given
by the Indenture Trustee by mailing a copy of the notice at least 12 days prior
to the redemption date to the Noteholders of the Notes to be redeemed in whole
or in part at the address of such Noteholder last showing on the registration
books. Failure to give such notice or any defect therein shall not affect the
validity of any proceedings for the redemption of such Notes for which no such
failure or defect occurs. All Notes called for redemption will

                                     A-1-1

<PAGE>

cease to bear interest after the specified redemption date, provided funds for
their payment are on deposit at the place of payment at the time. If less than
all Notes are to be redeemed, Notes shall be selected for redemption as provided
in the Indenture.

     The Indenture provides that the Issuer may enter into a Derivative Product
between the Issuer and a Counterparty. Payments due to a Counterparty from the
Issuer pursuant to the applicable Derivative Product are referred to herein as
"Issuer Derivative Payments," and may be secured on a parity with any Series of
Notes.

     The principal of and interest on the Series A1 Notes, any Outstanding
Unregistered Notes and any Additional Notes issued on a parity with the Series
A1 Notes and any Issuer Derivative Payments secured on a parity with the Series
A1 Notes are payable on a superior basis to such payments on the Series B1
Notes, any Outstanding Unregistered Notes and any Additional Notes issued on a
parity or subordinate to the Series B1 Notes; provided, however, that current
principal and interest may be paid on the Series B1 Notes and any Additional
Notes issued on a parity with the Series B1 Notes, any Outstanding Unregistered
Notes or subordinate to the Series B1 Notes if all principal and interest
payments due and owing at such time on the Series A1 Notes, any Outstanding
Unregistered Notes and any Additional Notes issued on a parity with the Series
A1 Notes and any Issuer Derivative Payments secured on a parity with the Series
A1 Notes have been previously made or provided for as provided in the Indenture.

     Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, the 2002-2 Series A&B
Supplemental Indenture and the 2002 Series A1&B1 Supplemental Indenture, copies
of which are on file in the Corporate Trust Office of the Indenture Trustee, to
all of the provisions of which any Noteholder of this Note by the acceptance
hereof hereby assents, for definitions of terms; the description of and the
nature and extent of the security for the Notes; the Issuer's education loan
origination and acquisition program; the revenues and other money pledged to the
payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes; the nature and extent and
manner of enforcement of the pledge; the conditions upon which the Indenture may
be amended or supplemented with or without the consent of the Noteholders and
any Counterparty; the rights and remedies of the Noteholder hereof with respect
hereto and thereto, including the limitations upon the right of a Noteholder
hereof to institute any suit, action, or proceeding in equity or at law with
respect hereto and thereto; the rights, duties, and obligations of the Issuer
and the Indenture Trustee thereunder; the terms and provisions upon which the
liens, pledges, charges, trusts, and covenants made therein may be discharged at
or prior to the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of this Note, and this
Note thereafter shall no longer be secured by the Indenture or be deemed to be
Outstanding thereunder; and for the other terms and provisions thereof.

     THE NOTES ARE LIMITED OBLIGATIONS OF THE ISSUER, PAYABLE SOLELY FROM, AND
FURTHER SECURED BY, THE TRUST ESTATE, AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE.

     No recourse, either directly or indirectly, shall be had for the payment of
the principal of and interest on this Note or any claim based hereon or in
respect hereof or of the Indenture, against the Indenture Trustee, or any
employee, or agent of the Issuer, nor against the State of Delaware, or any
official thereof, but the obligation to pay all amounts required by the
Indenture securing this Note and the obligation to do and perform the covenants
and acts required of the Issuer therein and herein shall be and remain the
responsibility and obligation of said Issuer, limited as herein set forth.

     Subject to the restrictions specified in the Indenture, this Note is
transferable on the registration books kept for that purpose by the Indenture
Trustee, as registrar, upon surrender of this Note for transfer at the Corporate
Trust Office of the Indenture Trustee, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a
written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee
duly executed by, the Noteholder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in
writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of the same Series, Stated
Maturity, of authorized denominations, bearing interest at the same rate, and
for the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the designated
transferee or transferees. At the option of the Noteholder, any Note may be
exchanged for other Notes in authorized denominations upon surrender of the Note
to be exchanged at the Corporate Trust Office of the Indenture Trustee. Upon any
such presentation for exchange, one or more new Notes of the same Series, Stated
Maturity, in authorized denominations, bearing interest at the same rate, and
for the same aggregate principal amount as the Note or Notes so surrendered will
be issued to the Noteholder of the Note or Notes so surrendered; and the Note or
Notes so surrendered shall thereupon be cancelled by the Indenture Trustee.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the ownership of the Notes is
maintained in book-entry form by The Depository Trust Company (the "Securities
Depository") or a nominee thereof, this Note may be transferred in whole but not
in part only to the Securities Depository or a nominee thereof or to a successor
Securities Depository or its nominee.

     The Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, and any agent of either of them shall
treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the Noteholder hereof
(a) on the record date for purposes of receiving timely payment of interest
hereon, and (b) on the date of surrender of this Note for purposes of receiving
payment of principal hereof at its Stated Maturity and (c) for all other
purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Issuer, the
Indenture Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.

                                     A-1-2

<PAGE>

     To the extent permitted by the Indenture, modifications or alterations of
the Indenture and the 2002 Series A1&B1 Supplemental Indenture may be made with
the consent of less than all of the holders of the Notes then Outstanding or
without the consent of any of such Noteholders (by reason of a change in the Act
or Regulation, to cure ambiguities or conflicts, or for any other reason stated
in Section 7.01 of the Indenture), but such modification or alteration is not
permitted to affect the Maturity, Stated Maturity, amount, Payment Date, or rate
of interest on any Outstanding Notes or affect the rights of the Noteholders of
less than all of the Notes Outstanding.

     It is hereby certified and recited that all acts and things required by the
laws of the State of Delaware to happen, exist, and be performed precedent to
and in the issuance of this Note, and the execution of said Indenture, have
happened, exist and have been performed as so required.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Note to be executed in its
name and on its behalf, all as of the Original Issue Date.

                                              EDUCATION FUNDING CAPITAL TRUST-I

                                              By:    FIFTH THIRD BANK,
                                                     as Co-Owner Trustee,


                                              By
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:

                                     A-1-3

<PAGE>

                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

     This Note is one of the Series A1-     Notes designated therein and
                                        ---
described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                              Fifth Third Bank, as Indenture
                                              Trustee


                                              By:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Authorized Signatory

Authentication Date:

------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   ASSIGNMENT

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns, and transfers
unto            (Social Security or other identifying number __________) the
     ----------
within Note and all rights thereunder and hereby irrevocably appoints
                                                                      ----------
attorney to transfer the within Note on the books kept for registration thereof,
with full power of substitution in the premises.


Dated:                                           Signed:

------------------------------------             -------------------------------

                                                 NOTICE: The signature on this
                                                 Assignment must correspond
                                                 with the name of the
                                                 Noteholder as it appears on the
                                                 face of the within Note in
                                                 every particular.

Signature Guaranteed by:


------------------------------------
A Member of The New York Stock
Exchange or a State or National Bank