Teacher Education Assistance For College And Higher Education Grants (TEACH Grants) (84.379)

Program

84.379 Teacher Education Assistance For College And Higher Education Grants (TEACH Grants)

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education

Authorization

Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Subpart 9, Title VI, Part A.

Program Number

84.379

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide annual grants of up to $4,000 to eligible undergraduate and graduate students who agree to teach specified high-need subjects at schools serving primarily disadvantaged populations for four years within eight years of graduation. For students who do not fulfill their service requirements, grants convert to Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans with interest accrued from the date of award.

Types of Assistance

DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED USE

Uses and Use Restrictions

Undergraduate and graduate students completing coursework or other requirements necessary to begin a career in teaching. Students must attend an institution of higher education that provides high-quality teacher preparation and professional development services; is financially sound; provides, or assists in the provision, of pedagogical coursework; and provides, or assists in the provision, of supervision and support services to teachers.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Beneficiary Eligibility

This program was created by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Public Law 110-84; it will begin operation on July 1, 2008. Students must have a grade-point-average (GPA) comparable to a 3.25 on a scale of zero to 4.0, except that, if the student is in the first year of undergraduate education, the grade point average is determined based on the student's cumulative secondary school grade point average. A student applying for a grant to obtain a graduate degree must be a teacher or a retiree from another occupation with expertise in a field in which there is a shortage of teachers; grants for graduate education may also be obtained by a student who is or was a teacher who is pursuing high-quality alternative certification. In addition, students must sign an agreement to serve under which they agree to serve as a full-time teacher for not less than four years within eight years of completing the course of study for which they received a TEACH Grant. Service must be performed at a school serving a primarily disadvantaged population and must be in one of the following fields: mathematics, science, a foreign language, bilingual education, special education, as a reading specialist, or in another field documented as high-need. Students must also agree to provide evidence of qualifying employment upon completion of each year of service. Failure to complete these service requirements results in the student's TEACH Grants being treated as Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, with interest accrued from the date of award. Students must also sign a statement of educational purpose, not owe a refund on a Title IV grant, and not be in default on a Title IV loan. Eligible males that are at least 18 years old and born after December 31, 1959, can receive aid only if they have registered with the Selective Service.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Students must complete a FAFSA, complete an agreement to serve and submit it to the Department of Education.

Award Procedure

Institutions act as disbursing agents for the Department of Education. The institution that the student attends disburses the TEACH Grants based on the enrollment status of the student.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 2 to 4 weeks.

Appeals

To be determined in regulation.

Renewals

Students who have applied in the previous award year must continue to meet all eligibility requirements and reaffirm their intention to fulfill the service requirements before obtaining subsequent grants.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Students are limited to one TEACH Grant during an academic year. Funds for these grants will likely be disbursed at least twice during an academic year. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Institutions will be required to furnish reports, periodically, on the disbursement of funds, as well as furnish any other reports the Secretary requires. Students must affirm each year that they intend to fulfill their service requirements and submit a certification for each year of required service. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. Annual audits will be made.

Records

All records pertaining to the eligibility of each TEACH Grant recipient and all fiscal management records must be maintained by the institution for a period of three years or until an acceptable audit has been completed, whichever is later. Selected students will have the information on their applications verified.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Funding supports awards to 8,000 students. Fiscal Year 2009: Funding will support awards to 17,000 students. Fiscal Year 2010: Funding will support awards to 25,000 students.

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0206-0-1-502.

Obligations

(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 08 $12,942,226; FY 09 est $41,550,652; FY 10 est $66,551,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Not Applicable.

Related Programs

84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants; 84.032 Federal Family Education Loans; 84.033 Federal Work-Study Program; 84.037 Perkins Loan Cancellations; 84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program_Federal Capital Contributions; 84.042 TRIO_Student Support Services; 84.044 TRIO_Talent Search; 84.047 TRIO_Upward Bound; 84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program; 84.066 TRIO_Educational Opportunity Centers; 84.069 Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership; 84.375 Academic Competitiveness Grants; 84.376 National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Federal Student Aid Information Center Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Phone: (800) 433-3243

Web Site Address

http://www.ifap.ed.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.