Summary

The Biden administration released a new student loan payment plan that would lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers and pause them completely for some. There’s been a freeze on loan repayments throughout the pandemic, but that’s coming to an end in June. The new proposal comes while plans to cancel some of the debt are held up in court. For a transcript of this story, click here .

Five Facts

• Who does the Biden administration's new student loan payment plans include?


• What do the new student loan plans consist of?


• Where and When were the student loan plans proposed?


• How does President Joe Biden's plan help solve his initial proposal to forgive student loan debt that is currently being held up in court?


• Why do students have so much education debt in the U.S.?

Focus Questions

1. How does relieving student loans help individual people? How might Biden's plan affect the overall economy?


2. Media literacy : How could you find out what students think about Biden's new plans?


3. Optional : See, Think, Wonder: What do you notice? What does the story make you think? What do you want to find out more about?

For More

What students can do : 1. Learn more how student loan debt has risen to crisis levels in the U.S. by watching this video below. Then have a conversation with a friend or family member about the effects of student loan debt on individuals, including people you might know. 2. Get informed! Knowledge really is power. Check out the latest broadcast of the NewsHour: As their first orders of business, House Republicans take aim at the IRS and what they consider government overreach. The Biden administration proposes income-driven repayment plans for student loans while plans to cancel some of the debt are held up in court. Plus, Navy veteran Mark Frerichs explains what his freedom means to him after being held hostage in Afghanistan. You can make a Google doc copy of our Five Facts and discussion questions that work for any of these stories here .

 

3. Student Video of the Day: Watch this video by PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs about people's individual experiences with student loans in America.

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