Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH Grant) Program

UPDATE: Because of the Sequestration Agreement, the US Deptarment of Education has ordered a reduction of 6% to TEACH Grant awards disbursed after March 1, 2013.

The TEACH Grant is a federal aid program for students that pursue certain high need teaching majors and minors. The US Department of Education requires each college to determine its eligible TEACH Grant programs. The award is available for the academic year as well as the summer at full or part time enrollment.

AWARDING OF THE TEACH GRANT:
The Office of Financial Aid will determine your eligibility for the TEACH GRANT when we process your aid application if the major or minor on record qualifies you for TEACH Grant consideration. If you are eligible, the grant is included in aid package.

Should you change your major or minor to a qualifying TEACH Grant field after your aid has been awarded, you may request the Office of Financial aid to review your eligiblity for the TEACH Grant award. To do so, send an email to finaid@hope.edu

To apply for TEACH Grant for the May, June, and/or July terms you must complete a SUMMER AID REQUEST FORM available on the Office of Financial Aid website beginning March 1.

AMOUNT OF GRANT:
The TEACH Grant Program allows up to $4,000 per year ($16,000 maximum) to first undergraduate degree students pursuing a teaching program and who plan to teach full-time in high need subject areas at schools that serve students from low-income families. Part time students may receive prorated awards; three-quarter-time up to $3,000 per year; half-time up to $2,000 per year; and less-than-half-time up to $1,000 per year. Students may receive TEACH Grant for all terms enrolled, including summer.

Demonstrated need is not required for this program but because total financial aid must not exceed the cost of attendance, receiving a TEACH Grant could reduce your eligibility for other sources of financial aid.

TEACHING OBLIGATION:
Grant recipients agree to teach in a classroom setting for at least four years within eight years of finishing their teacher preparation program. The four years must be teaching high-need subjects in designated schools that serve low-income students. Failure to complete the four-year teaching obligation causes the grant to convert to an unsubsidized loan which must be repaid with interest calculated back to the date the grant funds were disbursed.

SERVICE AGREEMENT:
To receive this grant you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (service agreement or ATS) available electronically on the U.S. Department of Education web site each year you take the grant. By submitting the ATS, you are agreeing to repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest accrued from the date the grants funds were first disbursed if you do not complete the teaching service requirement. Once the grant is converted to a loan, it cannot be converted back to a grant.

ELIGIBILITY requirements for the TEACH Grant:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
2. Score above the 75th percentile on at least one battery on a standardized college admissions test such as the ACT or SAT OR have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.
3. Be accepted to the Hope College Teacher Education Program for teacher certification
4. Complete a FAFSA (you do not have to demonstrate financial need)
5. Complete TEACH Grant counseling and sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (ATS) each year
6. Be enrolled in one of the eligible high need majors or minors offered under Hope's teacher certification programs--

Elementary Education:
Comprehensive Special Education Majors
Comprehensive Spanish Major
Integrated Science Major
Mathematics Major
Mathematics Minor

Secondary Education:
Biology Education
Chemistry Education
French Education
Geology/Earth ScienceEducation
German Education
Latin Education
Mathematics Education
Physics Education
Special Education
Spanish Education

IMPORTANT CAVEATS
The service requirement stipulates you must teach in a classroom setting and the majority of teaching time must be spent in your high need field. Therefore, most elementary teachers will find it difficult to meet the full-time teaching requirement as might a special education teacher.

Students pursuing a second bachelor's teaching degree or certification following receipt of a first bachelor's degree are not eligible for the TEACH Grant at Hope according to federal rules.

TEACH GRANT COUNSELING-For more information about this grant you can complete an entrance counseling session click here. Click on My Teach Grant and log in. You will need your Federal Student Aid PIN. You are not required to accept the grant if you do the counseling.

Students that have already received a TEACH Grant must complete Subsequent Counseling for each subsequent year they wish to receive the grant. You will need your Federal Student Aid PIN.

Prior to graduation or upon leaving Hope College, TEACH Grant recipients must complete Exit Counseling. You will need your Federal Student Aid PIN.

AGREEMENT TO SERVE- You will receive an email from the TEACH Grant program when the Agreement to Serve is available to complete electronically. You must complete an Agreement to Serve each year that you want to receive the grant.

AFTER YOU COMPLETE YOUR TEACHING PROGRAM- You are required on a yearly basis to provide the US Department of Education with certification of your teaching status required to meet the service component of maintaining the grant. TEACH GRANT CERTIFICATION form