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Teach Grant

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program is a federal financial aid program that provides annual grants of up to $4,000* to students who plan to become teachers in high-need subject areas. Students may receive up to $16,000 for undergraduate study and up to $8,000 for graduate study. Students must teach four years at schools that serve low-income families. Students who fail to complete the four-year teaching obligation will have to repay the grant with interest. 

Who is eligible?

Students enrolled in one of the following UHD programs:

Student Requirements

  • Maintain a 3.25 GPA

  • Be registered for at least six hours (award amount dependent on hours enrolled)

  • File a FAFSA each academic year

  • Meet with a FAFSA Counselor to review the federal grant program requirements annually

  • After graduation, students must teach full-time in a high-need field for at least four academic years in an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves low-income families

  • Must sign TEACH Grant Teaching Service Agreement annually (see below)

What is the Teaching Service Agreement?

Each year you receive a TEACH Grant, you must sign an agreement to serve. By signing, you are entering a contract with the Department of Education and are agreeing to meet the service obligation requirements of the TEACH Grant Program of teaching for four years within an eight-year period.

IMPORTANT: If you do not complete the service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed.  

Learn more about Unsubsidized Loans.

Learn more about the Agreement to Serve and the Service Obligation.

View a sample Teaching Service Agreement.


Teaching Obligation

To avoid repaying the TEACH Grant with interest you must be a highly-qualified, full-time teacher in a high-need subject area for at least  at a four years at a school serving low-income students. You must complete the four years of teaching within eight years of finishing the program for which you received the grant. You incur a four-year teaching obligation for each educational program for which you received TEACH Grant funds, although you may work off multiple four-year obligations simultaneously under certain circumstances. Specific definitions of these terms are included below.

Highly-Qualified Teacher - You must perform the teaching service as a highly-qualified teacher who is certified to teach and demonstrates knowledge of the subjects they teach.

Full-Time Teacher - You must meet the state’s definition of a full-time teacher and spend the majority (at least 51 percent) of your time teaching one of the high-need subject areas. Elementary teachers who teach many subjects would not be able to fulfill their service agreement.

High-Need Subject Areas

Schools Serving Low-Income Students

Schools serving low-income students include any elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Department of Education’s Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.

Documentation

You must respond promptly to any requests for information or documentation from the U.S. Department of Education, even if they seem repetitive. These requests will be sent to you while you are still in school as well as once you are out of school. You will be asked regularly to confirm that you either still intend to teach or that you are teaching as required. You must provide documentation to the U.S. Department of Education at the end of each year of teaching.

If you temporarily cease enrollment in your program of study or if you encounter situations that affect your ability to begin or continue teaching, you will need to stay in touch with the U.S. Department of Education to avoid your grants being converted to loans before you are able to complete your teaching obligation.


IMPORTANT REMINDER - Failure to complete the teaching obligation, respond to requests for information, or properly document your teaching service will cause the TEACH Grant to be permanently converted to a loan with interest. Once a grant is converted to a loan it cannot be converted back to a grant!

How much is the grant?

*Due to the Budget Control Act of 2011, known as a “sequester,” TEACH Grant awards disbursed on or after Oct. 1 will be reduced by a certain percentage, select the link for additional information.

  • The 2019-2020 amount is $3,764 for the academic year for full time students (enrolled in 12 hours).

  • The award amount will be prorated for students enrolled in less than 12 hours.

  • Please note the TEACH Grant Program is subject to change each year.

How do I apply?

If you feel that you qualify for a TEACH Grant, please schedule an appointment with a Financial Aid Counselor in the Office of Financial Aid to review your eligibility. 

Contact UHD FAFSA Counselors

Applications should be submitted each year by the fourth Friday in March. 

Where can I learn more?

TEACH Grant Program Overview

Federal Student Aid – What is a TEACH Grant?

What are subsidized and unsubsidized loans?