The Student Loan Corporation Agrees to Settle Shareholder Class Action Lawsuits

The Student Loan Corporation (the "Company") (NYSE: STU) today
announced that it and the other named defendants have entered into a
memorandum of understanding with plaintiffs' counsel in connection
with putative class action lawsuits filed in the Chancery Court for
the State of Delaware and the Superior Court of the State of
Connecticut in connection with (i) the Company's merger agreement with
Discover Financial Services ("Discover") and the merger contemplated
thereby (the "DFS Merger"); (ii) the Company's agreement with SLM
Corporation pursuant to which affiliates of SLM Corporation will
acquire from the Company certain securitized federal student loans and
related assets; and (iii) the Company's agreement with Citibank, N.A.
("Citibank"), pursuant to which Citibank will acquire from the Company
certain federal and private student loans and other assets .

Student Loan Forbearance Plans On Federal Loans–Graduates Delay Repayment Of College Debt

Student loan debt is often something that has been troubling for
graduates who may have exited college and are not in a financial
position to meet the repayment requirements of their college loans.
Understandably, factors like unemployment or underemployment which
have been present in the lives of many recent graduates have caused
financial strains, but there may be options for graduates to delay the
repayment of their college loan debt.

As an example, federal student loans may offer forbearance periods on
student loan debt repayment obligations for those who may be
unemployed or suffering a particular financial hardship. While some
graduates have been able to take advantage of consolidation loans or
income-based repayment plans, forbearance offers a graduate the
opportunity to completely forgo making payments on their debt for a
set period of time.

Obviously, for graduates who may be unemployed, this is greatly
beneficial as there are no financial obligations from college loans
for months at a time and when an employment opportunity comes
available, a graduate maybe begin repaying their student debt. While
there may be forbearance options on private student loans as well,
this maybe dependent upon the lender as to what opportunities
graduates may have to delay their debt repayment, but there may be
problems associated with debt forbearance for some.

During periods of forbearance, interest may begin to accrue and
compile, which could be problematic for a student, especially if this
interest is eventually tacked on to the principal. Most student loans
come with low, affordable interest rates and can be easily repaid by
most, but there are problems related with a high amount of student
loan debt which many face and, when this principle amount goes unmet,
interest rates can be problematic down the road.

While it's understandable that some students must turn to forbearance
options before they began missing required student loan repayment
obligations, and possibly doing damage to their credit score, advisers
often have counseled students and graduates to look at their repayment
options and, if at all possible, begin combating their student loan
debt obligation as quickly as they can.

Source: rwbpress.com

Federal Consolidation Student Loans – Difference Between Federal And Private Student Loan Consolidation

The most effective approach with regard to coping with a few debts is the student loan debt consolidation. It will help you merge all your private or government student loans into just one one with longer provisions along with affordable settlement.

Within the United states, there are two forms of college student loan categories available: the government student loans plus the private university student loans.

The federal consolidation student loan will definitely enable a undergraduate combine most of his student loans into a individual one with a really minimal interest rate. In addition the duration of the monthly payment duration will be arranged based on his requirements.

A student could look for a government debt consolidation loan through many banking institutions each offering good student loan packages.

On the flipside, the minimal month to month repayments will help raise the entire full sum to be returned. Nevertheless the government consolidation student education loans will offer you the examples below essential capabilities:

- Interest rate – the rates made available by the government debt consolidation student loan can be substantially lower as compared to any additional private student loan plan.

- Month-to-month repayment schedules – the monthly repayments are now economical as well as won't jeopardize your finances

- Individual loan – each and every month you will only have one monthly payment to make.

If a undergraduate isn't enrolled in a college and has given back each and every former financial loans on time or even he is in grace interval following post graduation subsequently he is qualified to apply for federal government debt consolidation loans. The minimum amount is $10,000 or more.

The students that have already got federal government educational loans qualify in addition for consolidation loans. The university student debt consolidation loan doesn't add the private education loans.

A learner can certainly have a federal government consolidation loan from many providers as well as institutions for instance: secondary markets, loan providers and credit unions.

The federal loan interest amount is tax deductible and that's why it might be best don't merge government plus private student loans. In the event the college student does that, he'll simply eliminate its pros supplied by a federal debt consolidation loan.

Find where exactly to search for low interest rate federal consolidation student loan on the web. Figure out exactly where to find the greatest bad credit student loan consolidation rates at my site right away

School district consolidation report sent to Gov. Haley Barbour

COMMISSION ON MISSISSIPPI EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE SUBMITS FINAL REPORT TO GOV. BARBOUR

JACKSON – The Commission on Educational Structure, chaired by BancorpSouth Chairman and CEO Aubrey Patterson of Tupelo, today released its final report of criteria to be used when considering school district consolidation to Gov. Haley Barbour. 


The commission was charged with examining how school district consolidation can best be achieved and calculating the savings that would result from consolidation, under an executive order by Gov. Barbour. The recommendations were required to detail standards and priorities to be used in selecting school districts for consolidation. The report was presented to Gov. Barbour, signaling the completion of the work of the Commission.
"These common-sense solutions are a good first step toward improving the educational and financial conditions of Mississippi schools," Gov. Barbour said. "I appreciate the months of hard work by the commission. Through innovate approaches to education, we can improve the efficiency of our districts and quality of opportunities for Mississippi children." 

The report includes four recommendations:

Recommendation 1
Lower the overall cost of doing business and encourage the economies of scale by amending Mississippi Code Section 37-7-345 to structure statewide consolidation of procurement of certain items. Potential items include those that are used in all school districts, such as buses, copy paper and janitorial supplies.

Recommendation 2
Recommend that, augmented by incentives listed below, school districts consolidate using a data-driven model. This approach will demonstrate how the quality of educational services will be improved through consolidation based on the statistical correlations drawn regarding enrollment, student achievement, number of courses taken, ACT college and career readiness data, district administration spending and/or other factors as designated by Legislature.

Legislature provides the following incentives for districts to voluntarily consolidate under existing law.

· Financial incentives: additional resources, issuing bonds to provide for building and renovating facilities, and providing no-interest loans; provide a percentage of the base student cost greater than 100 percent for each student in the consolidated district.

· Accreditation/accountability incentives: holding consolidated districts harmless from receiving an accountability rating for a set period of time; successful districts that receive failing districts will receive an accountability rating based only on original student population, unless the new students help the district improve its accountability rating; remove districts from the accreditation audit schedule for a period of time to allow the consolidated district to gain sure footing.

· Technical assistance: provide external facilitators to guide the districts through the consolidation process and remain as an adviser for the first two years of operation as a consolidated district. The external facilitator would ensure a smooth transition and that all voices, including those of all districts being consolidated, would be heard and recognized. The Mississippi Department of Education staff members would also assist in managing the process to the extent possible based on funding and staffing levels. In addition, the technical assistance includes developing guidelines for optimal performance based on best practices. The guidelines would address issues such as optimal size of schools and districts and caps on administrative costs.

Recommended model timeline for implementation:

September
Accountability Results released
October
Run model based on data
November
List of potential districts released
January-April
Legislature considers incentive package available to districts listed
July 1
Deadline for acceptance of incentive package
July 1-June 30
Planning Year(s)
July 1
New consolidated district is established, former districts abolished

Recommendation 3
Provide the State Board of Education full authority to dissolve districts that are placed in conservatorship or the Recovery School District and reconstitute them as a new district with new district lines and new governance structure. 

Recommendation 4
Using successful models based on businesses and districts in other states, require through legislation that all districts within a county consolidate support services and back-office operations and allow school districts from multiple counties to use a centralized system for shared services and back-office operations voluntarily. Through a joint outsourcing agreement and selecting the vendor through a Request for Proposals process, services that may be shared include purchasing, transportation, child nutrition, payroll and personnel. The vendor selected may be one of the school districts, a Regional Service Agency or a business. The consolidation of services may be phased in over a three-year period or a period of time specified by the Legislature.
"I believe these four recommendations provide the Legislature with some excellent options for consideration," said Aubrey Patterson, Chair of the Commission on Mississippi Educational Structure. "The Commission examined the issue from every angle and developed recommendations that address the consolidation of both school districts and services. I appreciate their hard work and dedication to the task."

The Commission held six meetings from January through June. A public hearing was also held to gain feedback on the issue from stakeholders.

"The most crucial factor when considering consolidation or any other initiative impacting education is to examine how it will help improve educational outcomes for children," said Dr. Tom Burnham, State Superintendent of Education. "We must look for the solutions that provide greater opportunities for students and improve teaching and learning in the classroom. Finding ways to do this more efficiently and effectively will free up resources to help school leaders meet increasingly rigorous standards."

Other members of the committee include: House Education Chairman Cecil Brown, Senate Education Chairman Videt Carmichael, Rep. Robert Johnson, Sen. Sampson Jackson, State Superintendent Tom Burnham, Commissioner of Higher Learning Hank Bounds, State Board of Education member Howell Gage, State Board of Education member and Pass Christian Superintendent Sue Matheson, Barksdale Reading Institute CEO Claiborne Barksdale, Jackson businessman Socrates Garrett, Madison County Superintendent Mike Kent, South Delta Superintendent Katherine Tankson, Gulf Coast businessman Stephen Renfroe, Meridian businesswoman Mary Peavey, Senate Universities and Colleges Chairman Doug Davis and Rep. Herb Frierson

Consolidation Loans For Student Loans And Bad Credit Debt-Will Consolidation Loans Erase Debt Fast?

More individuals are looking for consolidation loans for types of debt like student loans and bad credit debt sources. Typically, debts like student loans or debt that has resulted in a bad credit score from multiple sources and can be difficult to repay in some cases.

Consolidation loans have been used by many men and women over the past months as a way to make their various debts more affordable. Understandably, many debtors see a consolidation loan as more beneficial since there is only one monthly payment required and one interest rate associated with this type of debt.

However, some argue that consolidation loans are not beneficial for everyone as a higher principle amount can cause the costs of a consolidation loan to be much more when all is said and done then had the debtor attacked their debt sources separately. There are many proponents of fighting bad credit debt sources or various student loan debts one at a time by either paying as much as can be spared on debts that range from the smallest amount to the largest or the highest interest rate to the smallest.

On the other hand, there have been many consumers who have obtained a consolidation loan for various debts and, knowing that costs for this type of loan may be expensive, have chosen to pay more than is required on their minimum monthly consolidation loan repayment plan.

No matter what option is chosen by an individual with debt, factors like the repayment time period, interest rates, and the ability to repay must be considered. While time and interest can cause certain consolidation loans to be more costly, individuals with bad credit debt sources or student loan debt sources, for instance, may run the risk of missing payments and therefore would most likely benefit from paying more overall than doing damage to their credit score. Essentially, those individuals who have successfully combated their debt have done so by budgeting, making smart financial decisions, and attacking their debt in a way that allows them to find debt relief in a timely manner but also at minimal cost.

 

6 ways for new grads to manage student loan debt

By Andrew Housser

This year's college and professional school graduates are entering a tough job market. With jobs scarce and the economy challenging, graduates need a financial strategy. On average, graduates will leave college with more than $20,000 in student loan debt. In addition, many graduates accumulated significant credit card debt while in school. Fortunately, many avenues are available to help graduates -- or those still in school -- manage their educational debt.

First, whatever you owe, the most important thing is to pay bills on time. On-time payments are the No. 1 way to save your credit rating and save money on finance charges. Second, if you have credit card debt, focus on using any extra money to pay it off. Because credit card debts typically carry extremely high interest rates (typically 15-30 percent), there is no better investment than paying this debt as quickly as possible.

Finally, look into all your options when it comes to repaying student loans by considering these six tactics:

1) Take tax benefits

Most new graduates can deduct up to $2,500 per year in student loan interest payments. The deduction phases out for taxpayers with annual incomes between $50,000 and $65,000 ($100,000 to $130,000 for those filing joint returns). Ask a tax advisor to check your tax return to be sure you get all the education-related deductions and credits for which you qualify.

2) Volunteer to earn loan repayment

Several nonprofit organizations that recruit volunteer workers offer loan repayment as one of the perks. AmeriCorps workers who serve 12 months can receive $4,725 to be used toward student loan repayment, in addition to a stipend of up to $7,400. Peace Corps volunteers, who serve two-year terms, may be able to defer Stafford, Perkins and consolidation loans, and volunteers can qualify to cancel 15 percent of each Perkins Loan per year of service, up to 70 percent in total. Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) offers $4,725 to be used toward repaying student loans for workers who serve for 1,700 hours.

3) Some military service members can receive loan help

Graduates who serve in the Army National Guard may be eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program, which offers up to $10,000 to repay loans. Federal loan repayment programs also exist for service members in "areas of hostilities or imminent danger."

4) Teachers in high-risk schools might be eligible for loan cancellation

The National Defense Education Act allows students who become full-time teachers in schools serving low-income students to have part of their Perkins loans forgiven -- up to 85 percent over five years. Several additional federal, state and other programs also exist. See a list at the website of the American Federation of Teachers.

5) Legal and medical graduates can earn loan forgiveness for public service

Many programs repay student loans for graduates in law or medicine (including veterinary medicine, nursing and physical and occupational therapy) who serve in public interest or nonprofit positions or in underserved areas. For more information, contact your professional association or search the Internet for your field.

6) If you can't pay

If you cannot pay your loan, immediately call your lender. Lenders would rather work with you than risk a defaulted loan. You will do less harm to your credit rating if you work out an arrangement and must postpone payments for a while than if you default. Damage from defaulting could prevent you from buying a home or car or getting a job, apartment or insurance for years to come. If your total debt is insurmountable, seek help from a reputable debt relief advisor.

Student loan debt can be a healthy type of debt. Education generally is a worthwhile investment, and it provides a strong basis for better earnings throughout your lifetime, as well as the path to a satisfying career. However, graduates should set the basis for their future by avoiding expensive credit card debt and striving to repay all existing debt quickly -- and take advantage of the help that is available to them.