TEACH Grant
Definition
The TEACH Grant is a federal financial aid program that provides up to $4,000 per year to students who agree to teach in high-need fields at low-income schools for at least four years after graduation.
Detailed Explanation
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is a federal grant designed to support students who plan to become teachers in high-need subject areas and commit to working in low-income schools. Unlike other federal grants, the TEACH Grant requires recipients to fulfill a service obligation: they must teach full-time in a qualifying school and subject area for at least four of the eight years following graduation.
High-need fields include areas like mathematics, science, special education, foreign language, and English as a second language. Schools serving low-income students are defined by the U.S. Department of Education and listed in its Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.
To be eligible for the TEACH Grant, students must complete the FAFSA, enroll in a TEACH Grant–eligible program, sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve, and complete TEACH Grant counseling annually. If the service requirement is not met, the grant converts into a Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest charged from the date the grant was originally disbursed.
Because of the risk of loan conversion, recipients should fully understand the obligations and keep careful records of their employment and certification. The TEACH Grant is one of the few federal aid options tied directly to a specific post-graduation career path.
Example
A student pursuing a degree in special education receives a $4,000 TEACH Grant annually and agrees to teach in a Title I elementary school for four years after graduation.
Key Articles Related To TEACH Grants
Related Terms
Agreement to Serve: A legally binding contract signed by TEACH Grant recipients promising to fulfill teaching service requirements.
Cost of Attendance: The estimated total cost of attending college for one year, including tuition, housing, books, and other expenses.
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used to apply for federal financial aid, including the TEACH Grant.
Financial Aid: Money awarded to help students pay for college, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs.
Grant: Financial aid that does not need to be repaid unless conditions, such as service requirements, are not met.
High-Need Field: Subject areas identified by the U.S. Department of Education as having a shortage of qualified teachers.
Low-Income School: A school that serves a high percentage of low-income students and is listed in the federal low-income school directory.
Service Obligation: A specific commitment a student must fulfill after receiving aid, such as teaching in a high-need area under the TEACH Grant.
Student Loan: Borrowed money for education expenses that must be repaid with interest.
Teacher Certification: The process by which a graduate becomes legally authorized to teach in public schools.
FAQs
What happens if I don’t fulfill the TEACH Grant service obligation?
The grant converts into a Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest charged from the date the grant was disbursed.
How do I apply for a TEACH Grant?
Complete the FAFSA, enroll in an eligible program, complete TEACH Grant counseling, and sign the Agreement to Serve.
Can graduate students receive the TEACH Grant?
Yes, eligible graduate students can receive up to $4,000 per year, just like undergraduates.
What fields qualify as high-need for the TEACH Grant?
Fields like math, science, special education, foreign language, and English as a second language often qualify.
Where can I find a list of qualifying low-income schools?
The U.S. Department of Education publishes the Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools on its website.
Editor: Colin Graves