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

The TEACH Grant Program is a non-need based grant program that provides funds to students who are completing or plan to complete coursework that is needed to begin a career in teaching and who agree to serve for at least four years as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a school serving low-income students. 

Eligible full-time students may receive up to $4,000 per year in TEACH Grant funds, up to a maximum of $16,000 for undergraduate study, and $8,000 for graduate study. Full-time enrollment is not required. The TEACH Grant will be prorated for less than full-time enrollment.

If a grant recipient fails to complete the required four years of teaching service within eight years after completing the coursework for which the grant was received, the TEACH Grant is then converted to a Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and must be repaid in full, with interest accruing from the date the grant was disbursed. You must meet the n's definition of a full-time teacher and spend the majority of your time teaching one of the high-need subject areas. Elementary teachers who teach many subjects would not be able to fulfill their service agreement.

A student eligible for the TEACH Grant must sign an Agreement each year before receiving the grant funds.  The agreement is a legally binding document that defines the teaching service obligations to be met and specifies the repayment obligation if a TEACH Grant is converted to a loan. 

By signing the Agreement, the student agrees:

• to serve as a full-time, highly qualified teacher for at least four school years within eight years of completing, or otherwise ceasing to be enrolled in, the program for which they receive a TEACH Grant,
• to teach in a low-income school, and
• to teach in a high-need field in the majority of classes that they teach during each school year.

For purposes of the TEACH Grant Program, a low-income school is a public or private elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Annual Directory of Designated Low-income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits at https://www.tcli.ed.gov/CBSWebApp/tcli/TCLIPubSchoolSearch.jsp.

To receive a TEACH Grant while a student at UMD, you will need to major in one of Minnesota's high need teaching fields. UMD's majors which qualify in 2009–2010 are:

• Teaching Earth and Space Science
• Teaching Life Science
• Teaching Mathematics
• Teaching Physical Science: Chemistry concentration
• Teaching Physical Science: Physics concentration
• Teaching French
• Teaching German
• Teaching Spanish

Helpful links:

• Teach Grant Application
• Fact sheet: What you need to know before you get a TEACH Grant
• TEACH Grant Frequently Asked Questions