TEACH Grants

[cjcollege]

<p>Hi All -- long time lurker on these boards, first time poster. Here's my question:</p>

<p>My D will attend an OOS public next fall and we (thankfully) have her projected COA covered for the duration. She is interested in Early Childhood Ed and/or Special Ed. From what I understand on the TEACH federal grant she can get $4,000 per year with a commitment to serve 4 years in a high demand field in a low income area. The 4 years and high demand are no problem, but if she doesn't find a job in a low income area the grant converts to an unsubsidized loan with the interest "clock" starting at time of original disbursement -- which is a risk we could take I suppose. So, I'm confused as to how to go about applying. </p>

<p>Do I need to complete FAFSA? I wasn't planning on it, but do have the PINs and such.</p>

<p>Or, do I apply only via the TEACH program site?</p>

<p>It seems we could hedge our bets by applying for and receiving the grant, then if she doesn't end up in a low income area, we'd just repay the $16,000. </p>

<p>Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks for your help!</p>

[swimcatsmom]

<p>You have to submit FAFSA to be eligible for the TEACH. It is awarded through the school.</p>

<p>

If you are interested in learning more about the TEACH Grant Program, you should contact the financial aid office at the college where you will be enrolled to find out if they will participate in the TEACH Grant Program. For a listing of the TEACH Grant eligible institutions,

</p>

<p>[Student</a> Aid on the Web](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp]Student”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp)</p>

[sk8rmom]

<p>Yes, you have to file the FAFSA. Here are all the requirements (from student aid on the web):</p>

<p>

Student Eligibility Requirements
To receive a TEACH Grant you must meet the following criteria: </p>

<p>•Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSASM), although you do not have to demonstrate financial need.
•Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
•Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student in a postsecondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program.
•Be enrolled in course work that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or plan to complete such course work. Such course work may include subject area courses (e.g., math courses for a student who intends to be a math teacher).
•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 TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (see below for more information on the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve).

</p>

<p>Is she actually going to major/teach in one of the high demand fields? That is a crucial component of the grant program. Elementary Ed doesn’t qualify, and is not likely to ever be in the high demand category.</p>

[cjcollege]

<p>Yes, her interests are Early Childhood Ed or Early Childhood Special Ed which in our state is considered high need. Again, no guarantee that she’ll end up in our state or at a low income environment, but it seems to me that worse case we pay back the grant amount – best case it’s a total of $16,000 off the full college bill. </p>

<p>I emailed her financial aid office with other questions as it seems they interpret high need areas differently than the state by state breakdown, so I’ll see what happens!</p>

[swimcatsmom]

<p>worst case is you repay the $16,000 + 6.8% interest.</p>

[cjcollege]

<p>Sounds right. And just to clarify, they seem to differentiate between Elementary Ed (not high need) and Early Childhoold Ed (think preschool) as qualifying for high need.</p>