LEGISTATION Several bills give breaks to those in child-related careers

WASHINGTON -- Several bills introduced in the U.S. Senate would forgive portions of college loans for students who select careers in early childhood education, social work and juvenile law, and give money to establish anti-drinking campaigns and to help train future teachers.
The five higher education bills were introduced by U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, on Thursday.
The Paul Wellstone Early Educator Loan Forgiveness Act would expand loan forgiveness to educators and caregivers working in low-income preschools and childcare settings. Similar legislation was introduced by DeWine and the late U.S. Sen. Wellstone as part of the 1998 Higher Education Reauthorization Bill.
DeWine said professionals would be encouraged to stay in the field longer because higher percentages of loans are forgiven as time in the field increases.
A second bill suggests loan forgiveness for students pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees in social work and who move on to work in the child welfare system. Social workers who serve in child protective services or the foster care system for two years would be eligible for up to 20 percent forgiveness; three years would excuse up to 30 percent; forgiveness would max out at 50 percent for five years of work in the field.
The other bills:
One would offer loan forgiveness to attorneys who enter the fields of family law, juvenile law or domestic relations law.
The Ready to Educate All Children Act of 2002 would provide matching grants to education schools that partner with low-income schools to create programs to better train teachers.
A bill co-sponsored by DeWine with U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) would award $50 million in grants for states to create statewide coalitions among colleges and universities and their surrounding communities to battle underage drinking.