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Federal TEACH Grant

The Federal TEACH Grant Program provides grant assistance to students admitted to the college in either an undergraduate or graduate degree seeking program, who agree to serve for at least four years as full-time “highly qualified” teachers in high-need fields in public or not-for-profit private elementary or secondary schools that serve students from low-income families.

Schools which offer a baccalaureate teacher preparation programs (such as NDC) may not participate in this program at the post-baccalaureate level (TEEL® program). However students enrolled in the TEEL program have access to the Teacher Loan Forgiveness/Forbearance Program.

A TEACH Grant recipient who does not complete the required teaching service within eight years of completing his or her academic program, subject to certain exceptions, or fails to meet certain other requirements of the TEACH Grant Program, must repay the TEACH Grant as a Direct Unsubsidized Loan under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program with interest, accrued from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed. A student in their first baccalaureate degree program may be eligible for up to $4,000 per year to a maximum of $16,000. A student admitted to the Master of Education Program may be eligible for up to $4,000 per year to a maximum of $8,000

Student Eligibility Requirements

To determine your eligibility for a TEACH Grant you must:

  1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov, although you do not have to demonstrate financial need.
  2. Complete Notre Dame College’s Federal TEACH Grant application (first year only; continuing TEACH Grant recipients are not required to resubmit this form).
  3. Meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid.
  4. Be admitted to one of the following:
    • Notre Dame College’s undergraduate Bachelors’ degree teacher education programs:
      • ADOLESCENT TO YOUNG ADULT EDUCATION (GR. 7 – 12) with a major of Life Science and Chemistry or Integrated Mathematics or Spanish (Pre-K – 12)
      • MIDDLE CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (Gr. 4 – 9) with a Math and Science concentration
      • MILD MODERATE INTERVENTION SPECIALIST (MMIS) (K – 12)
    • Notre Dame College’s Masters of Education Program (M.ED) in MMIS or Masters of Education Program (M.ED) with Reading Endorsement
  5. Meet one of the following academic standards:
    • Score above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test (e.g. SAT, ACT, GRE), or
    • Have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) to receive a grant in the first term, or
    • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) through the most recent term in the Master’s degree program for subsequent payments
  6. Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (ATS) and respond to requests by the U.S. Department of Education confirming your continuing intention to meet the teaching obligation. The ATS is available electronically at www.studentloans.gov.
  7. Complete TEACH Grant Counseling at www.studentloans.gov each academic year.
  8. Continue to meet the eligibility requirements to receive funding each semester.

Important Reminder!

Failure to complete the teaching obligation, respond to requests for information, or properly document your teaching service will cause the TEACH grant to be permanently converted to an unsubsidized loan with interest. Once a grant is converted to a loan it cannot be converted back to a grant.

Federal TEACH Grant links:

Federal Student Aid:  TEACH Grant

TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (ATS)

TEACH Grant Counseling

TEACH Grant Exit Counseling

Definition of “highly qualified teacher”

Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing

Federal Teacher Cancellation Low Income (TCLI) Directory