The Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program was created to fill the teacher shortages in high-need fields. The TEACH Grant is the first federal grant program that requires a service agreement and has the potential of converting to a loan.

Award

The Federal TEACH Grant allows up to $4,000 per year available for full-time students on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Funds can only be used for the student’s first bachelor's or graduate degree and are not available for students in doctoral programs.

Amounts are prorated according to enrollment levels per term.

Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011, which has caused federal budget cuts to this program, known as a “sequester.” Therefore, TEACH grant funds first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and prior to October 1, 2024 will see a reduction of 5.7% from their originally approved award amount. More details about sequestration can be found here. (https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach)

Eligibility Requirements

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (https://studentaid.gov/)

You do not have to demonstrate financial need

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
Be enrolled in an eligible program
Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in a post-secondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the Federal TEACH Grant Program
Be enrolled in coursework that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or plan to complete such coursework
Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25)
Sign a Federal TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and Repay (ATS) (https://studentaid.gov/teach-grant-program)

Agreement to Serve and Repay

In exchange for receiving a Federal TEACH Grant, students must agree to serve as a full-time teacher for at least 4 of the 8 years following the completion of his or her program. Students must also teach in a high-need field in a school that serves low-income students.

If the service obligation is not completed, the U.S. Department of Education will convert all Federal TEACH Grant funds the student received to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan. The student will have to repay the loan and will be charged interest from the date the grant(s) disbursed.

More information about the Service Agreement can be found here. (https://studentaid.gov/teach-grant-program)

High Needs Fields

Bilingual education and English language acquisition
Foreign language
Mathematics
Reading specialist
Science
Special education

2023-2024 TEACH Grant Eligible Majors

Bachelor's Degree Programs

All undergraduate programs must lead to licensure in order to qualify.

BIED-Biology
CHED-Chemistry Education
CSED-Computer Science Education (6-12)
EELD-Elementary Education (Online and Resident)
EEMA-Elementary Education: Middle Grades Math (Online and Resident)
EESG-Elementary Education: Special Education General Curriculum K-6 Add on (Online and Resident)
EESI-Elementary Education: Middle Grades Science (Online and Resident)
EGED-Engineering Education: (6-12)
ESED-Teaching English and a Second Language (P-12) (Online and Resident)
MAED-Math (Online and Resident)
MEMT-Middle Education: Math
MESI-Middle Education: Science
PYED-Physics Education (6-12)
PYEE-Physics Education (6-12): Earth Science
SAED-Spanish Education
SEPD-Special Education (Online and Resident)

Master's Degree Programs

MEMS-M.ED: Math Specialist Endorsement
MERS-M.ED: Reading Specialist (TL)
MTED-MAT: Elementary Education (45 hour)
MTEL-MAT: Elementary Education
MTES-MAT: Elementary Education-Special Education General Curriculum (45 hr)
MTMI-MAT: Middle Grades
MTMR-MAT: Middle Grades (45 hour)
MTSC-MAT: Secondary Education
MTSD-MAT: Secondary Education (45 hour)
TSAC-MAT: Special Education Adapted Curriculum
TSAE-MAT: Special Education Adapted Curriculum and Early Childhood Special Education Concentration
TSEC-MAT: Early Childhood Special Education Cognate
TSEG-MAT: Special Education-Early Childhood Special Education and General Curriculum Concentration
TSGA-MAT: Special Education-General Curriculum and Adapted Curriculum Concentration
TSGC-MAT: Special Education
TSSG-MAT: Special Education (45 hour)

Grandfathered Programs

MTSL-MAT: Special Education

Additional Resources

TEACH Grant Information: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach
Eligible Schools: Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach#low-income-schools

Policy Rationale

This policy is in place to ensure proper funding and management of the Federal TEACH Grant program

Definition of Glossary Terms

Federal TEACH Grant: A federal grant offered to eligible students who are completing or plan to complete coursework needed to begin a career in teaching.

Agreement to Serve and Repay: A legal contract the student reads, agrees to, and signs which outlines the service terms and conditions of the grant.

High Need Field: High need fields for the purpose of awarding and qualifying for the Federal TEACH Grant. These fields are designated and approved by the U.S. Department of Education

Procedural Information

Procedures

Apply for TEACH Grant

Complete the TEACH Application in ASIST. (www.liberty.edu/ASIST)
You will only see the TEACH Grant application as an option if you are in an eligible program, submitted a FAFSA, completed verification if applicable, and are making Satisfactory Academic Progress. If you meet all of the requirements, your award will be packaged when the application review is approved.
Next, you need to sign an "Agreement to Serve and Repay" contract with the federal government and complete the TEACH Grant federal initial and subsequent counseling before the funds are disbursed to your account.

Sanctions

If the service obligation is not completed, the U.S. Department of Education will convert all Federal TEACH Grant funds the student received to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan. The student will have to repay the loan and will be charged interest from the date the grant(s) disbursed. If the grant is converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan, then Conversion Counseling will need to be completed by the student.

Exceptions

A TEACH Grant that has been converted to a loan can be changed back to a grant only under limited circumstances. You may request a reconsideration if you can show that you were satisfying your service obligation, or that your grant was converted to a loan in error. If you previously asked to have your TEACH Grants converted to loans, but you have now decided to satisfy your service obligation, you may request reconsideration if you would still have time to complete your required four years of teaching within your eight-year service obligation period.

If you believe you qualify, you must submit a request for reconsideration of the conversion to your TEACH Grant servicer. You may need to provide documentation to support your request. 

If your request for reconsideration is approved, your loan will be changed back to a TEACH Grant and you will once again be responsible for satisfying your TEACH Grant service obligation.

Date Approved

6/14/2023

Date Revised

6/23/23

Date for Review

6/23/2028

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3.3.4.0 Federal TEACH Grant Policy

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