Many of us take a “wait and see where it takes you”-approach to our educational planning. For a few students, however, college just represents another hurdle standing between them and their intended career path. Many prospective educators are well aware of their strong desire to teach in public or private schools. When you want to teach in an elementary or secondary school that serves the needs of low-income families’ students, the TEACH Grant is a great add-on option for Federal Student Aid.
Teach Grants provide up to $4,000 in a non-payback form that aids and promotes the successful events of your new teaching career. Student loans, although they have grace periods, make it harder to work through your debts. Financial aid scholarships are great options for paying for college, but often cannot completely free you of your financial burdens. By combining scholarships with grants for your specific program of study and career path, you can easily get started on the road to your degree.
The TEACH Grant requires some of the same procedures and standards that come with most Federal Student Aid programs. Like college scholarships for teaching students, TEACH requires FAFSA completion, and a commitment to complete 4 academic years of teaching within 8 calendar years of your graduation. Additionally, this grant requires you to be enrolled in a undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate education program, with coursework or a curriculum plan that is necessary to your teaching career; these details are included in the “TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve” that you’ll sign. You must also meet certain achievement requirements, including 75th percentile scores on a college admissions test, or maintenance of a cumulative 3.25 GPA.
Although they don’t come with repayment conditions or obligations, government grants are not handouts, and you’ve got to make sure you pay your dues. Make sure you know all the details of your financial aid package selections before you apply. TEACH Grant recipients who do not fulfill their obligation to teach for at least four academic years are subject to having the TEACH funds they received converted into Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loans which must be repaid after a 6 month grace period.