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Student Financial ServicesTeacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
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.
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
QUALIFYING HIGH-NEED MAJORS at Manhattan College
PRORATED AMOUNTS:UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
GRADUATE STUDENTS
APPLICATION PROCESS:
By accepting a TEACH Grant, you are signing a legally binding document, in which you agree to:
**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:
TEACH Grant – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What exactly is the TEACH Grant? This is a new federal program to encourage teachers into high-need teaching areas teach 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 teaching as a full-time highly-qualified teacher 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 accrued 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. 2. How do I apply for a TEACH Grant? Submit a FAFSA indicating an interest in the TEACH Grant, and fill out a Manhattan College TEACH Grant application. To receive the grant, you will also need to complete federal online counseling and an Agreement to Serve form. 3. How often do I have to apply/reapply? Each year you will need to indicate on your FAFSA that you are interested in teaching, complete a new federal Agreement to Serve form, and complete a TEACH Grant counseling session. 4. Why are only certain undergraduate programs of study eligible? There are predetermined programs that are designated as eligible for the TEACH Grant. Manhattan College has limited regulations to accept students who have entered into a clear path toward receiving a teaching license in a high-need area, involving a commitment both by the student and by the College. 5. How are the high-need teaching areas determined? The U.S. Department of Education maintains the national list at Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing. Additionally, each year, each state establishes high-need areas for that particular state. The Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits also contains an updated listing of eligible low-income schools nationwide. 6. Can I qualify for TEACH Grants for both undergraduate and graduate study, in preparation for my teaching license? Yes, up to $4,000 per year, with a limit of $16,000 as an undergraduate student and $8,000 as a graduate student, as long as you are enrolled in qualifying programs, submit all required materials annually, and maintain at least a 3.25 GPA. 7. What are the academic qualifications to get or keep a TEACH Grant? Students must have at least a 3.25 GPA for each payment period; OR have a score above the 75th percentile on one section of an admissions test such as the SAT, ACT or GRE. In addition, you must annually complete a FAFSA, Entrance Counseling, and Agreement to Serve. 8. What are my obligations in return for the funding provided by the TEACH Grant? Recipients must teach full-time for four years in a high-need subject area in a low-income school within eight years of graduation or leaving the College. If you fail to do this, your TEACH Grant(s) reverts into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan, with interest accruing from when the money was first disbursed to your student account. 9. What happens if I change majors or wish to cancel the TEACH Grant? If you change majors to one ineligible for a TEACH Grant, you will not continue to receive the grant. Furthermore, if you graduate and do not pursue the teaching requirements, the grant is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized loan with interest calculated from the point of disbursement. You are still held responsible for fulfilling the teaching service years for the aid year you received the grant, despite having left the qualifying program. If you wish to cancel your TEACH Grant, notify Student Financial Services within two weeks, or by the first day of the payment period – it will not become a Loan. If you notify SFS after the two weeks, but within 120 days – the College is not required to return the funds, and the grant can be converted into a loan. After 120 days, you are responsible for contacting Direct Loan Servicing and they will determine appropriate repayment of funds. 10. What happens if my major is removed from the “high-need” list? If the major was considered “high-need” at the time that you received the TEACH Grant, you will be permitted to fulfill the requirements by teaching in that subject area. 11. What happens if my cumulative GPA drops below a 3.25? If you qualify for this grant, but your GPA falls below a 3.25, you are ineligible for the grant until your GPA returns to the required 3.25 minimum. 12. When would I have to start making payments if it becomes a loan? Like all Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans require repayments to begin at the end of the six months grace period following either your graduation or failure to enroll below half time. 13. Can the grant be denied if I reach my aggregate maximum on loans? No, this grant is not based on need and does not factor into your aggregate limit on loans. However, the amount of all financial aid received cannot extend beyond your cost of attendance. You can speak with a Student Financial Services representative to determine if accepting a TEACH Grant would impact your award package. 14. What happens if I am not a full-time student? This grant is up to $4,000 per year for full-time students, or up to $2,000 per semester, and is prorated if you are enrolled less than full time. 15. What happens if I have the grant as an undergraduate, then attend graduate school? You will still be expected to fulfill your teaching obligation once you complete graduate school. You are required to officially suspend your first grant, then you can apply for a graduate-level TEACH Grant in an eligible program. 16. Can I use student teaching in a high-need field at a low-income school towards my Agreement to Serve years? No, student teaching does not count toward the four years you are required to teach in order to fulfill your agreement with the federal government. 17. Do I need to serve eight years at a low-income school in a high-need field if I have a TEACH Grant as an undergraduate, and a second Grant in graduate school? No, you would only be obligated to fulfill a 4-year teaching service in total if you were to continue from one right into the next. There are certain circumstances that alters this (if you postpone graduate school for a year or more), so please feel free to contact a representative in Student Financial Services (Miguel Hall, Room 100 or call (718)-862-7100) or TEACH directly at http://www.teach-ats.ed.gov with any questions or concerns. 18. I am an experienced teacher interested in becoming licensed in a high-need field. Would I qualify for the TEACH Grant? The grant is only applicable for someone who is earning his or her first bachelor's or master's degree. You may qualify for the TEACH Grant if you have not yet earned your first master's degree. Special Education is currently the only eligible graduate-level program offered at our College. 19. I'm graduating! Do I need to do Exit Counseling? Yes, Exit Counseling is required by federal law. Please visit: https://www.dl.ed.gov - you will need your FAFSA pin number to complete this process. Read over provisions of Exit Counseling and contact us with any further questions. 20. How do I contact the U.S. Department of Education after graduating? The U.S. Department of Education does not have a formal customer service number specified for TEACH Grant inquiries. However, a web form is available at: http://www.teach-ats.ed.gov. Further, students primarily communicate with the Direct Loan Servicing Center (DLSC). Required forms including Suspension and Annual Certification can be found at their website: http://www.dl.ed.gov. It is important that students notify the DLSC within 120 days after leaving Manhattan, and each subsequent year until the service agreement is fulfilled. Additionally, upon gaining employment as an eligible teacher, the Annual Certification form must be completed by a chief administrator in the school to verify that the teacher was “a highly-qualified teacher in a low-income school and taught a majority of classes in a high-need field" for the applicable academic year. Always update the Direct Loan Servicing Center with changes in name, address, phone number, and other contact information.
WEBSITES FOR YOUR APPLICATION and Other Helpful ResourcesInitial and Subsequent Online Entrance Counseling Online Exit Counseling Manhattan College’s TEACH Grant Application Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) United States Department of Education TEACH Grant website National Student Loan Data for Students (NSLDS) Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Elementary & Secondary Education Act (‘65)
Individuals with Special Disabilities
Student Financial Services PowerPoint Lecture Direct Loan Servicing Center
FSA Ombudsman
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