TEACH Grant
The U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH Grant) Program provides funds to students who are completing or who plan to complete coursework that is required to begin a career in teaching, and who agree to teach full-time for at least four years meeting the following requirements:
- As a highly qualified teacher
- At a school serving low-income students
- In a high-need field
If you receive a TEACH Grant but do not complete the required four years of teaching service meeting the requirements above within eight years after you complete (or otherwise cease to be enrolled in) the program for which you received the grant, all TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that you must repay with interest accrued since the first disbursement date. In addition, your TEACH Grant can turn into an Unsubsidized Loan for other reasons which are discussed in the Initial and Subsequent Counseling.
Who is eligible to receive the TEACH Grant at CLU?
At CLU, graduate students in the Special Education Program (Mild/Moderate, Moderate/Severe, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing) are eligible to receive the TEACH Grant beginning with the Fall 2010 term. At this time, students in other programs are not eligible.
Students must also meet certain academic achievement requirements to be awarded the initial TEACH Grant and then to receive the Grant in subsequent terms.
New Students to Cal Lutheran:
- Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) from coursework prior to CLU of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale or
- A score above the 75th percentile of scores on at least one of the batteries from a nationally-normed standardized undergraduate, graduate, or post-baccalaureate admission test.
Continuing Students at Cal Lutheran:
- Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) from the prior term of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale.
GPA requirements do not apply to Graduate students who are currently teachers or who are retiring and have expertise in a subject where there is a shortage of teachers. If you fall in this category, it is your responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office and provide documentation.
Students do not need to demonstrate financial need to receive the TEACH Grant, but students are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be eligible and must meet all Title IV student eligibility requirements including being a regular student; citizen or eligible non-citizen; not in default on any student loans; and be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards your degree.
What is the process for applying for a TEACH Grant?
The steps below must be completed for each year you would like to receive a TEACH Grant.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online at www.studentaid.gov.
- Complete the Initial and Subsequent Counseling and the Agreement to Serve or Repay online through the Department of Education’s website.
- Once Cal Lutheran receives confirmation of the completion of both Counseling and the Agreement to Serve or Repay, we will award the TEACH Grant for your first term of enrollment in the year (as long as you also meet the academic requirements outlined above).
- Cal Lutheran will then process your TEACH Grant and you will need to actively confirm your interest in the Grant on the MyCLU Self-Service Financial Aid portal.
- You do have a right to cancel your Grant by notifying Cal Lutheran prior to disbursement or within 14 days of the notification email from Cal Lutheran. The cancellation request must be submitted in writing.
At the end of the first term of enrollment in the academic year as a recipient of a TEACH Grant, the Cal Lutheran Financial Aid Office will review your GPA per the academic requirements outlined in the Eligibility section above and as long as you meet the requirements, will award you the TEACH Grant in the subsequent term.
Should you leave the program for any reason (graduation, leave of absence, etc.) you MUST notify the Department of Education within 120 days of leaving the school that you are fulfilling or still plan to fulfill the service requirement of the program. Failure to do so, will cause the TEACH Grant to convert to a Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan with interest accruing from date of Grant disbursement. More information on this is discussed in the Initial and Subsequent Counseling.
What is the amount of the TEACH Grant?
Students may receive up to $4,000* per year towards education expenses and the amount is based on the student’s enrollment status (full-time, half-time, etc.). Graduate students can receive a maximum of $8,000* towards their studies.
*A percentage will be reduced from the amounts indicated as required by the The Budget Control Act of 2011.
All information regarding your TEACH Grant will be kept online at www.studentaid.gov
What is TEACH Grant Initial and Subsequent Counseling?
TEACH Grant Initial and Subsequent Counseling will explain the TEACH Grant Program and the TEACH Grant service obligation you agree to meet as a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant. You must complete TEACH Grant Initial and Subsequent Counseling each year that you receive a TEACH Grant before you sign an Agreement to Serve (ATS) for that year. The Initial and Subsequent Counseling must be completed before Cal Lutheran will award the TEACH Grant. Once the TEACH Grant is awarded and processed by CLU to the Department of Education, you will be able to complete the Agreement to Serve or Repay.
The counseling session consists of a TEACH Grant Overview and three additional sections that cover the following topics in detail:
- Your TEACH Grant Agreement to serve or repay
- Your Service Obligation
- Conversion of a TEACH Grant to a Loan.
Each section is followed by a section quiz.
What is a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay?
The TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay is a legally binding document that:
- Explains your TEACH Grant service obligation;
- Explains the conditions under which your TEACH Grant may be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan;
- Describes the repayment terms and conditions that apply if your TEACH Grant is converted to a loan.
You must sign a new Agreement to Serve or Repay each year you receive a TEACH Grant. You must complete TEACH Grant Initial and Subsequent Counseling for a year before you may complete an Agreement to Serve or Repay for that year.
Completing the TEACH Grant Initial and Subsequent Counseling and Agreement to Serve or Repay
Cal Lutheran recommends completing the Initial and Subsequent Counseling and Agreement to Serve or Repay during a time you are able to completely focus on the Counseling and the Agreement. We also recommend printing any/all pages you would like to refer to in the future regarding your obligations and requirements as a TEACH Grant recipient.
Visit the My TEACH Grant website to:
- Complete TEACH Grant counseling.
- Complete your Agreement To Serve or Repay
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program is subject to across-the-board budget cuts under the sequester law in effect after March 1, 2013. Any reduction in the amount of a TEACH Grant would only apply to awards where the first disbursement was made during the time the sequester is in effect. If you have questions about the TEACH Grant award and how it may be reduced, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.