# 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**](https://studentaid.gov/) with the U.S. Department of Education to: - Upload service-related forms and requests on [**StudentAid.gov**](https://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®**](https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/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**](https://studentaid.gov/teach-grant-program) - 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)*
**Grant disbursed on or after** **October 1, 2021** **(5.7% reduction rate)** **A-State Online** **Only Registered** **Graduate Hours** **Registered** **Graduate Hours** **Registered** **Undergraduate** **Hours** **Award** **Amount**
Full-time 9 and above 9 and above 12 and above $1,886
Three-quarter time 6 7-11 7-11 $1,414
Half-time 3 6 6 $943
Below half-time n/a 2 and below 5 and below $0
**Summer Semester** **Enrollment Status** **A-State Online** **Only Registered** **Graduate Hours** **Registered** **Graduate Hours** **Registered** **Undergraduate** **Hours** **Award** **Amount**
Full-time 6 and above 6 and above 12 and above $1,886
Three-quarter time n/a 7-11 7-11 $1,414
Half-time 3 3 6 $943
Below-half-time n/a 2 and below 5 and below $0
**Grant disbursed on or after** **October 1, 2022** **(5.7% reduction rate)** **A-State Online** **Only Registered** **Graduate Hours** **Registered** **Graduate Hours** **Registered** **Undergraduate** **Hours** **Award** **Amount**
Full-time 9 and above 9 and above 12 and above $1,886
Three-quarter time 6 7-11 7-11 $1,414
Half-time 3 6 6 $943
Below half-time n/a 2 and below 5 and below $0
**Summer Semester** **Enrollment Status** **A-State Online** **Only Registered** **Graduate Hours** **Registered** **Graduate Hours** **Registered** **Undergraduate** **Hours** **Award** **Amount**
Full-time 6 and above 6 and above 12 and above $1,886
Three-quarter time n/a 7-11 7-11 $1,414
Half-time 3 3 6 $943
Below-half-time n/a 2 and below 5 and below $0
*\*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**](https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.html) *(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)**](https://studentaid.gov/tcli). Schools run by the [Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)](https://www.bie.edu/Schools/index.htm) 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. ](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach)*