TEACH GRANT?  WHAT'S THAT?

NEW!  NEW!

Department of Education Announces TEACH Grant Program

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program was established under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA), to benefit current and prospective teachers.  This new grant is available as of the 2008-09 school year.

Award Amount

• Up to $4,000 per academic year.
• Aggregate amounts are:
• $ 16,000 for students on their first undergraduate or post-baccalaureate (non-degree) program.
• $   8,000 for graduate students.
• The award, when combined with other aid, cannot exceed the cost of attendance.  The award amount is prorated for those attending less than full-time.

Eligibility

• Students need to meet basic eligibility requirements (there is no Expected Family Contribution for this grant), and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA.
• Student must be currently completing coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching; or plan on completing coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching.
• There are, however, graduate degree alternatives for teacher or retirees with experience in a teacher shortage area.
• Student must be a U.S. or an eligible non-citizen.

Academic Requirements

• The student must have at least 3.25GPA for each payment period.
• The student must have a score above the 75th percentile on an admission test, such as the SAT, ACT or GRE.

Agreement to Serve/Promise to Pay

• Students must sign an understanding of terms to certify that they understand the terms of the grant and the terms of their teaching service requirements.
• The student must teach full-time for at least four years within eight years of completing program as a:
• highly qualified teacher
• at a Title I school
• in a specified subject area (mathematics, science, a foreign language, bilingual education, special education, as a reading specialist and other “high-need” fields)
• If service is not met, the grant must be repaid as an Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan with interest from the date(s) of original disbursement.