Federal TEACH Grant - Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is a federal grant for students who plan to become teachers in certain high-need subject areas. Unlike most federal grants, the TEACH Grant requires you to complete a teaching service commitment after finishing your program. If you do not complete this service, the grant will be converted into a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and you will have to repay it with interest.
(Source: Federal Student Aid)

How TEACH Grant Communication Works

Students who receive a TEACH Grant now work directly with the U.S. Department of Education to:

• Upload service-related forms and requests on StudentAid.gov

• Request a voluntary conversion or ask for a reconsideration if the grant converts to a loan

• Submit paperwork by mail or fax to:

Federal Student Aid Programs – TEACH
P.O. Box 300010
Greenville, TX 75403
Fax: 540-212-2415
(Source: Federal Student Aid)

Who Can Receive a TEACH Grant?

To qualify, a student must:

• Meet all general federal student aid requirements

• Submit the FAFSA® each year

• Attend a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program

• Be enrolled in a program that prepares you to teach in a high-need field

• Meet academic guidelines (such as scoring in the top 25% on a college admissions test or maintaining at least a 3.25 GPA)

• Complete TEACH Grant counseling each year

• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay

• Only students pursuing a first Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree are eligible for a TEACH Grant. Students pursuing only a teacher licensure or a second Bachelor's degree are not eligible for the TEACH Grant. 
  (Source: Federal Student Aid)

Undergraduate 

• Students must be admitted to the TEACH Education program 
• Students must have Taken the Praxis I 
• Seeking a degree in one of the below high-need fields: 
• BSE in Art 
• BSE in Foreign Language (Spanish or French) 
• BSE in Mathematics 
• BSE in Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) 
• BSE in Special Education K-12 
• BSE in Social Science 

Graduate 

• Seeking a degree in one of the below high-need fields: 
• MSE in Biology 
• MSE in Chemistry 
• MSE in Mathematics 
• MSE in Reading 
• MSE in Special Education K-12 
• MSE in Special Education P-4 
• MSE in Special Education 4-12 
• MSE in Special Education Gifted, Talented and Creative 
• MSE in Social Science 
• MSE in Computer Science 

Academic Requirements 

Students must either earn a GPA of 3.25 or better) or have scored in the 75th percentile or better on a nationally-formed admission test (such as SAT or GRE) to qualify to receive and maintain the TEACH Grant award. 

*Current teachers are not required to meet the GPA requirements upon initial TEACH Grant award but must maintain the 3.25 GPA requirement to continue eligibility. 

Grant Amounts

The TEACH Grant can provide up to $4,000 per year.
Due to federal budget rules, awards for any grant first paid between Oct. 1, 2020, and Oct. 1, 2026 are reduced by 5.7%, meaning the maximum award during this period is $3,772.
(Source: Federal Student Aid)

*Award amounts may change based upon sequestration amounts determined by the Federal Processor. 

Service Obligation (Your Teaching Requirement)

To keep the grant from turning into a loan, you must:

1. Teach full-time for four years

2. Work at a school or educational service agency that serves low-income students

3. Teach in a high-need field (such as math, science, special education, foreign language, or another subject listed on the Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing)

4. Complete your four years of teaching within eight years after leaving your program
   (Source: Federal Student Aid)

You must complete:

• One four-year obligation for all TEACH Grants received as an undergraduate, and

• One four-year obligation for all TEACH Grants received as a graduate student.

In some cases, the same teaching service period may count for both.
(Source: Federal Student Aid)

What Happens If You Do NOT Meet the Requirements?

If you do not complete the required service:

• Your TEACH Grants will automatically convert into Direct Unsubsidized Loans

• You must repay them with interest starting from the original date the funds were disbursed

You also have the option to request your grant be converted to a loan before completing the service if you already know you will not fulfill the teaching obligation.

**Please remember: Once a TEACH Grant has been converted to a loan, it cannot be converted back to a TEACH Grant. 
(Source: Federal Student Aid)

Programs That Qualify

A TEACH Grant-eligible program is one that:

• Leads to a bachelor’s or master’s degree

• Or is a post-baccalaureate program that prepares students to teach in a high-need field

Each college decides which of its programs qualify, so a program could be eligible at one school but not at another.
(Source: Federal Student Aid)

What Counts as a High-Need Field?

High-need subject areas include:

• Math

• Science (including computer science)

• Foreign language

• Bilingual education

• English language acquisition

• Reading specialist

• Special education

• Any field the state lists as high-need on the Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing
  (Source: Federal Student Aid)

To count, the subject must be listed:

• Either the year you start teaching, or

• The year you received your TEACH Grant

Where You Must Teach

Your teaching must take place at a school or educational service agency that serves low-income students. These schools are listed in the Teacher Cancellation Low-Income Directory (TCLI).
Schools run by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) also qualify automatically.
(Source: Federal Student Aid)

Suspensions of Your Service Deadline

You may request a temporary pause on the eight-year service window for reasons such as:

• Enrollment in a TEACH-eligible or state-approved teaching program

• Completing coursework for state certification

• Qualifying medical or family leave

• Military service

• Being a military spouse with significant relocation

• Living or working in a federally declared disaster area

Each suspension type has time limits, usually up to 3 years.
(Source: Federal Student Aid)

Your service obligation may be discharged (canceled) if:

• You pass away

• You become totally and permanently disabled
  (Source: Federal Student Aid)

Submitting Proof of Teaching

Each year you complete teaching service, you must submit documentation, certified by your school’s chief administrative officer, proving that:

• You taught in a qualifying low-income school

• You met state certification requirements

• You taught mostly in a high-need field

Forms can be uploaded on StudentAid.gov or mailed/faxed to the address provided earlier.
(Source: Federal Student Aid)

For additional information regarding the TEACH Grant please go online to https://studentaid.gov/teach-grant-program.