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The TEACH Grant is a new federal program that strives to encourage teachers into high-need teaching areas in K-12 low-income schools. It allows for a grant of up to $4,000 per year for students in qualifying undergraduate and graduate programs in exchange for recipients serving as full-time highly-qualified teachers in a high-need field within a low-income school upon graduation. If the teaching service years are not fulfilled within eight years of graduating or leaving the qualifying program, the grant is converted into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan with interest, and must be repaid in full. Teachers are responsible for gaining employment within these parameters by themselves. No formal assistance is provided by the College.

• It is a conditional, non-need based grant for eligible students studying to begin a teaching career in a “high-need” field. It is not a loan.
• $4,000 can be awarded per year to full-time students with maximum funds of:

1.  $16,000 for undergraduate programs and professional degrees
2.  $8,000 for graduate programs
3.  Includes all institutions attended combined.
4. Students with a less-than-full-time enrollment status will receive prorated amounts.

Student Financial Services recommends that eligible students should only apply if they are committed to become full-time high-quality teachers in a high-need subject area at a low-income school upon graduation.  This teaching obligation must be completed in a public or nonprofit elementary or secondary school that is eligible for Title I assistance. The Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits contains an updated listing of low-income schools nationwide.

If the four-year teaching obligation is not met within eight years of graduation, the grant will convert to an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, which will have to be repaid with interest accruing from the date the funds were first disbursed to the student’s account. Regular communication must be maintained between the student and the U.S. Department of Education before and after receiving the TEACH Grant. It is the student’s responsibility to respond to all requests for documentation and communicate properly with the U.S. DEPT. OF EDUCATION, especially at the end of each teaching service year. Those who are not employed as a teacher immediately after graduation must still submit an Intent to Teach to the U.S. DEPT. OF EDUCATION. Manhattan College is not liable to contact the student with reminders or updates after he or she graduates or leaves the qualifying program.

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 a loan with interest. Once this conversion takes place, it cannot be reversed.

ELIGIBILITY

• Must be an Undergraduate and Graduate student
• U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a documented score of at least the 75th percentile on any section/part of the SAT or ACT, or the GRE for incoming graduate students,
• OR recipients must have and maintain an overall, accepted GPA of 3.25* out of 4.0.
• Complete the Agreement to Serve and Entrance Counseling here, and FAFSA annually.
• Be accepted and enrolled in an eligible high-need major at Manhattan College
• Out-of-State “High Need Fields” are listed annually in the Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing

QUALIFYING HIGH-NEED MAJORS at Manhattan College

1. Foreign Languages
2. Mathematics
3. Science (grades 5-9 & 7-12)
4. Special Education
5. ***NYC teachers only*** for English (grades 5-9 & 7-12), Physical Education
6. Other “High Need Fields” are listed annually in the Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing

 

PRORATED AMOUNTS:

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Enrollment Status	Credits per semester	TEACH amount per year
Full-time	12 cr.	$4,000
Three-quarters	9 cr.	$3,000
Half-time	6 cr.	$2,000
Less-than-half	3 cr.	$1,000

 

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Enrollment Status	Credits per semester	TEACH amount per year
Full-time	9-12 cr.	$4,000
Half-time	6 cr.	$2,000
Less-than-half	3 cr.	$1,000

 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

1. Meet eligibility requirements.
2. Complete online entrance counseling and the agreement to serve.
3. Complete the FAFSA.
4. Complete Manhattan College’s Initial Application and submit materials to the Student Financial Services Office.

By accepting a TEACH Grant, you are signing a legally binding document, in which you agree to:

• Serve as a full-time, highly-qualified teacher in a high-need subject area for at least four academic years within 8 years of completing or leaving the College.
• Teach in a low-income school that is in the Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools.
• Teach in a high-need field for a majority of your classes each school year.
• Pay back the grant in full, including accrued interest, upon conversion into a loan, if one fails to complete the teaching service years within eight years of graduating or leaving the qualifying program.

**If your high-need field is not listed annually at your employing school after your first qualified year there, it still counts toward the TEACH Grant! **

 

FAILING TO FULFILL SERVICE AGREEMENT results in:

• The TEACH Grant converts into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
• Interest (currently 6.8% fixed rate) accrues from the date it was originally disbursed, even during the 6-month grace period, deferments, or forbearance.
• It can never be reconverted back into grant status.
• Delinquent and Defaulted TEACH Grant loans can result in being reported to the National Credit Bureaus, have negative impact on your credit score, and include other legal costs and fees.

 

Page Updated: 4/29/10