UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

OMB No.: 1840-0595

Expires: 01/31/20__

Date

SUMMARY: This letter is to notify each State of the requirement to submit teacher shortage area 

proposals for the 20__ - 20__ school year for designation by the U.S. Department of Education.

Dear Chief State School Officer:

This letter gives notice of the closing date for receipt of State-proposed teacher shortage areas for 

designation by the U. S. Department of Education (Department) for the 20 ____ -20___ school year. 

You must submit your 20__- 20__ proposed teacher shortage areas by December __, 20___. A copy

of the Teacher Shortage Areas Nationwide Listing 1990-1991 through 20__ - 20__, published in __

20__, may be found at the following Web site: 

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.html

There are Federal program benefits available for those who may teach in shortage areas proposed by

your State under the following regulations: 

 Targeted teacher deferment for borrowers under the Family Federal Education Loan (FFEL) 

and Federal Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) programs (34 CFR 682.210(q)); 

 Full-time teaching in fields of expertise, cancellation of up to 100% of their debt under the 

Federal Perkins Loan Program (34 CFR 674.53(c)); and

 Teaching obligation fulfillment for recipients under the Teacher Education Assistance for 

College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program (34 CFR 686).

Copies of the following final regulations, published in the Federal Register, are enclosed:

 The December 18, 1992 (34 CFR Part 682), regulations regarding the targeted teacher 

deferment for borrowers under the FFEL and Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) 

programs; 

 The November 30, 1994 (34 CFR Part 674), regulations regarding the cancellations for fulltime teaching in fields of expertise for borrowers under the Federal Perkins Loan Program; and 

 The June 23, 2008 (34 CFR Part 686), regulations regarding the obligations for full-time 

teaching in a high-need field, at a low-income elementary or secondary school for grant 
Page 2 - Chief State School Officer

recipients under the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) 

Grant Program.

Please refer to these regulations, in addition to the enclosed checklist, for assistance in preparing your 

State’s teacher shortage area proposal.

If your State does not submit the required written documentation proposing teacher shortage areas, 

FFEL/SLS and Federal Perkins Loan borrowers and TEACH Grant recipients who teach in your State

may not receive Federal program benefits to which they may be entitled.

We are enclosing a Proposed Teacher Shortage Area Designation Submission Checklist that itemizes 

the information you must submit to the Department. To expedite processing of your proposal, please 

ensure that each item on the checklist is addressed and that all assurances are clearly stated. If your 

State chooses not to propose Teacher Shortage Areas, please reply in a letter noting the applicable 

school years for which areas are not being proposed.

Proposals sent by regular U.S. mail, special delivery, or FEDEX services should be addressed to:

Andrea C. Baird

Program Officer

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. 

Office of Postsecondary Education/Higher Education Programs

K Street Location, Room 6143

Washington, DC 20202

Hand delivered proposals will be accepted at the above address between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily 

(Eastern Standard Time), except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

Public Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection 

of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control 

number for this information collection is 1840-0595. The time required to complete this information 

collection is estimated to average 80 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, 

search existing data resources, gather and maintain the data needed, and complete and review the 

collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain 

benefits contained in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) regulations (34 CFR 

682.210). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of 

information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Andrea C. Baird, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Office of Postsecondary Education, K Street Location, 

Washington, DC 20202. If you prefer, Andrea Baird can also be reached by phone at (202) 502-7797 

or via e-mail at Andrea.Baird@ed.gov.
Page 3 - Chief State School Officer

Thank you for submitting a timely proposal. We look forward to receiving your proposal of 

designated teacher shortage areas in your State no later than December __, 20__.

John Clement

Director, Institutional Programs 

Development Division

Enclosures

A Proposed Teacher Shortage Area Designation Submission Checklist

B Final Regulations published in the Federal Register on December 18, 1992 (34 CFR Part 682) 

C Final Rule published in the Federal Register on November 30, 1994 (34 CFR Part 674)

D Final Regulations published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2008 (34 CFR Part 686)

1990 K STREET, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20006

http://www.ed.gov

Our mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation.