The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides up to $4,000 per year in grants for students who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools serving students of low-income families.
At Binghamton University, only matriculated graduate students pursuing their first master's degree in a TEACH eligible program are eligible for these funds. Less than full-time students are eligible, but the grant is prorated based on the following schedule:
Award Schedule
| Credits | Award/Semester |
|---|---|
| 12 or more credits | $2,000 |
| 9 or more credits | $1,500 |
| 6-8 credits | $1,000 |
| 1-5 credits | $500 |
| Credits | Award/Semester |
|---|---|
| 9 or more credits | $2,000 |
| 7-8 credits | $1,500 |
| 5-6 credits | $1,000 |
| 1-4 credits | $500 |
Important Note: TEACH Grant awards have been reduced due to sequestration. All awards with a first disbursement made on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2024, will be reduced by 5.7% from the award amount the student would otherwise be eligible to receive.
Eligible Graduate Programs at Binghamton University
MSEd:
- "Childhood" Early Childhood Education, Grades Birth-6, Initial Certification
- Literacy
- Special Education
- Literacy Education, Grades Birth-6, Grades Birth-12, Grades 5-12, Advanced Certification
- Special Education, Grade Birth -2, Birth-Grade 6, Grades 1-6, Grades 7-12, Advanced Certification
- Adolescence Education in Math, Science, French, or Spanish, Grades 7-12, Advanced Certification
- TESOL Education Grades Pre K-12, Advanced Certification
MAT:
- Biology Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12, Initial Certification
- Chemistry Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12, Initial Certification
- Earth Science Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12, Initial Certification
- French Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12, Initial Certification
- Mathematics Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12, Initial Certification
- Physics Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12, Initial Certification
- Spanish Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12, Initial Certification
Accelerated Degrees
- French (BA) and (MAT) in French Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
- Math (BA) and Math Adolescence Education (MAT), Grades 7-12
- Spanish (BA) and (MAT) in Spanish Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12
Student Eligibility Requirements
To receive a TEACH Grant you must:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Meet basic eligibility requirements for federal student aid; financial need not a requirement.
- Be a matriculated student enrolled in a TEACH Grant-eligible program as designated by Binghamton University (see listing above).
- Enroll in a designated as TEACH Grant-eligible program at Binghamton University as a matriculated student (see listing above).
- Meet one of the following academic achievement requirements: Score above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test (e.g. SAT, ACT, or GRE) OR if a first-year graduate student, an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale). Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) to receive a grant for each subsequent term. Your GPA will be reviewed prior to each TEACH Grant disbursement.
- Complete TEACH Grant Request for Review and Entrance Counseling Sessions with your Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership Advisor and a Financial Aid Counselor at Binghamton University. The sessions must be completed prior to the first disbursement of the grant.
- Complete TEACH Grant Online Entrance Counseling and a TEACH Agreement to Serve provided by the Department of Education.
- For each award, you must complete Subsequent TEACH Grant Counseling. You must sign and submit the form each year you receive a TEACH Grant. The agreement outlines the conditions under which the grant will be awarded, the teaching service requirements, and includes an acknowledgment that you understand that if you do not meet the teaching service requirements you must repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from the date grant funds were first disbursed.
- Respond to all requests by the U.S. Department of Education confirming your intention to meet the teaching obligation.
Grant Details
Teaching Obligation
To avoid repaying the TEACH Grant with interest you must be a highly-qualified, full-time teacher in a high-need subject area for at least four years at a school serving low-income students. You must complete four years of teaching within eight years of completing the program for which you received the grant. You incur a four-year teaching obligation for each educational program for which you received TEACH Grant funds, although you may work to fulfill multiple four-year obligations simultaneously under certain circumstances.
Here are the specific definitions of teaching obligation terms:
- Highly-Qualified Teacher: You must perform the teaching service as a highly-qualified teacher, which is defined in federal law.
- Full-Time Teacher: You must meet the state's definition of a full-time teacher and spend the majority (at least 51 percent) of your time teaching one of the high-need subject areas. Please note: Elementary teachers who teach many subjects would not be able to fulfill their service agreement.
High-Need Subject Areas
- Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition
- Mathematics
- Science
- Foreign Language
- Reading Specialist
- Special Education
Teacher shortage areas
Schools Serving Low-Income Students: Schools serving low-income students include any elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Department of Education's Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.
Student's Responsibility Upon Receipt of Grant
- You must respond promptly to all requests for information or documentation from the U.S. Department of Education. You will receive communications while you are still in school as well as once you are out of school, confirming your intention to teach or that you are teaching as required. You must provide documentation to the U.S. Department of Education at the end of each year of teaching.
- If you temporarily cease enrollment in your program of study or if you encounter situations that affect your ability to begin or continue teaching, you will need to contact the U.S. Department of Education to avoid your grants being converted to loans before you are able to complete your teaching obligation.
- To award TEACH grant funds, Financial Aid Services at Binghamton University may be required to reduce federal financial aid based upon total cost of attendance.
IMPORTANT: Failure to complete the teaching obligation, respond to requests for information, or properly document teaching service will result in the TEACH Grant converted permanently to a loan with interest capitalized.
