TEACH Grant

Looking to become a teacher? The TEACH grant could be a great option for you. But you need to know what it is you are committing to when you accept a TEACH grant. Following info is excerpted from the Department of Ed website

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher
Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to
$4,000 per year to students that are pursuing a career in teaching.

What’s the catch?

If you accept this grant you must agree to
serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or
private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income
students.

What is a high need field?

•Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition.
•Foreign Language.
•Mathematics.
•Reading Specialist.
•Science.
•Special Education.
Other areas identified here

How long?

You must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years
of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant.

What if I don’t do it?

If you fail to complete this service obligation, all amounts of TEACH Grants that you
received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education (ED). You will be charged interest from the date the grant was disbursed.

When considering all of the requirements, you will have to make a very committed decision to become a teacher if you want this grant. You will be required to work in specific school districts limiting your choice of work environments. If you are prepared to handle these responsibilities then by all means take this grant. If you are unsure about completing your degree with this career path in mind, then you should reconsider.