Federal Student Aid
Federal TEACH Grant
The following information has been updated and is effective as of March 1, 2013. We are now able to resume the acceptance of 2012-2013 TEACH Grant applications (see below). TEACH Grant applications for 2013-2014 will be available soon.
Amounts
The TEACH Grant Program will provide up to $3,490 per year (up to $6,980 total for graduate studies) in grants to master's level students who plan to teach full-time in high-need subject areas at schools that serve students from low-income families. Full-time students (12+ credits/points) may receive up to $3,490 per academic year, while three-quarter time students (9-11 credits/points), half-time students (6-8 credits/points), and less-than-half-time students (1-5 credits/points) may receive lesser amounts that correlate with their enrollment (See Important Notes section below.)
Please note that the information on this page has been updated as a result of the federal sequestration, which caused the TEACH Grant allocations to be reduced. Previously, students were able to receive up to $4,000 per year in TEACH Grant funding, however, that is no longer the case as of March 1, 2013. The most you are able to receive per year is $3,490 and the least you may receive is $870.
Disbursement
Awards will be split into two disbursements. Typically, half of your total award will disburse in the fall and the other half will disburse in the spring.
Cancellation
If you request cancellation before the first day of the payment period or within 14 days of your school notifying you of your grant, your school will return the funds and they will not be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.
Teaching Obligation
Grant recipients must agree to teach for at least four years within eight years of finishing their teacher preparation program. Recipients must also teach in a high-need subject area in a designated school that serves low-income students. If you do not complete the four-year teaching obligation, your grant will convert to an unsubsidized loan, which you will have to repay with interest calculated back to the date the funds were disbursed.
Service Agreement
Each year that you receive a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (otherwise known as a service agreement), which is available electronically on the US Department of Education's website. When you sign the service agreement, you are agreeing to the repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from the date the grant funds were first disbursed, if you do not complete the teaching service requirement. If the grant is converted to a loan, it cannot be converted back to a grant. (See Important Notes section below.)
Eligibility
To be eligible for a TEACH Grant, you must:
Amounts
The TEACH Grant Program will provide up to $3,490 per year (up to $6,980 total for graduate studies) in grants to master's level students who plan to teach full-time in high-need subject areas at schools that serve students from low-income families. Full-time students (12+ credits/points) may receive up to $3,490 per academic year, while three-quarter time students (9-11 credits/points), half-time students (6-8 credits/points), and less-than-half-time students (1-5 credits/points) may receive lesser amounts that correlate with their enrollment (See Important Notes section below.)
Please note that the information on this page has been updated as a result of the federal sequestration, which caused the TEACH Grant allocations to be reduced. Previously, students were able to receive up to $4,000 per year in TEACH Grant funding, however, that is no longer the case as of March 1, 2013. The most you are able to receive per year is $3,490 and the least you may receive is $870.
Disbursement
Awards will be split into two disbursements. Typically, half of your total award will disburse in the fall and the other half will disburse in the spring.
Cancellation
If you request cancellation before the first day of the payment period or within 14 days of your school notifying you of your grant, your school will return the funds and they will not be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.
Teaching Obligation
Grant recipients must agree to teach for at least four years within eight years of finishing their teacher preparation program. Recipients must also teach in a high-need subject area in a designated school that serves low-income students. If you do not complete the four-year teaching obligation, your grant will convert to an unsubsidized loan, which you will have to repay with interest calculated back to the date the funds were disbursed.
Service Agreement
Each year that you receive a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (otherwise known as a service agreement), which is available electronically on the US Department of Education's website. When you sign the service agreement, you are agreeing to the repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from the date the grant funds were first disbursed, if you do not complete the teaching service requirement. If the grant is converted to a loan, it cannot be converted back to a grant. (See Important Notes section below.)
Eligibility
To be eligible for a TEACH Grant, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Be eligible for federal aid
- Be enrolled in or plan to complete coursework in a TEACH Grant-eligible master's degree (only) program, toward a career in teaching and/or in a high-need subject area (see list below). Doctoral students, including those receiving a master's degree on the way, are NOT eligible.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and meet all other institutional requirements for maintaining enrollment.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.25.
- Complete the TC TEACH Grant application
- Complete a FAFSA, although you do not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible.
- Art
- Bilingual Education
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Elementary / Childhood Ed & Learning Disabilities
- English (Grades 5-9 and 7-12)
- English as Second Language
- Intellectual Disability / Autism
- Languages other than English
- Mathematics (Grades 5-9 and 7-12)
- Music
- Physical Education
- Reading and Literacy
- Sciences (Grades 5-9 and 7-12)
- Special Education (Bilingual)
- Special Education (5-9 and 7-12)
- Teaching Student with Disabilities
Program descriptions and major codes are listed here.
Note: In order to satisfy your service requirement, the field in which you teach must be a high-need field in the state where you wish to complete the service. You are not required to remain in New York to complete the teaching requirement.
Documentation
You must confirm within 120 days of completing or otherwise ceasing enrollment in your teacher preparation program that you are fulfilling (or plan to fulfill) the terms and conditions of your service agreement. You must document your teaching service with the chief administrative officer at the school where you teach.
Application Process
Documentation
You must confirm within 120 days of completing or otherwise ceasing enrollment in your teacher preparation program that you are fulfilling (or plan to fulfill) the terms and conditions of your service agreement. You must document your teaching service with the chief administrative officer at the school where you teach.
Application Process
To apply for the TEACH Grant, you only need to complete a FAFSA and submit TC's TEACH Grant application. If awarded, you will receive an e-mail from our office with directions on how to accept it.
Important Notes
- If you are not already committed to teaching a high-need subject in a low-income school, please use caution when considering this possible source of funds. According to some estimates, only 20 percent of students who participate in the TEACH Grant Program will be able to use the funds as grants, while many students will see their funds converted to loans with accumulated interest.
- Because total financial aid must not exceed the cost of attendance, receiving a TEACH Grant may reduce the recipient’s eligibility for other sources of financial aid.