Accessing a Federal TEACH Grant

The Education Program at the Tulane School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) is approved by the U.S. Department of Education as a site for the Federal TEACH Grant. Prospective students may be able to qualify for a Federal TEACH Grant.

What Is the Federal TEACH Grant?

Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the non-need-based Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program to provide grants of up to $4,000 per year (based on level of enrollment) to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. If the recipient does not fulfill the grant requirements within a certain amount of time, the grant converts into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.

Who Is Eligible?

At SoPA, only post-baccalaureate students who meet certain additional requirements are eligible to receive a Federal TEACH Grant. A student is considered to be in a “TEACH Grant-Eligible Program” when he or she is currently registered for or enrolled in at least one course required for the Education Program* and also meets the following requirements:

  • Has obtained a bachelor's degree (from Tulane or elsewhere).
  • Has successfully completed (received a grade of B or better) in the 2000-level class EDLA 2000 Education in a Diverse Society (or approved equivalent) of the Teacher Preparation and Certification Program.
  • Has received a passing grade on the Praxis II Content exam.
  • Has been conditionally considered for the State Non-Master Alternative Certificate Program through Tulane University.
  • Has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), although financial need is not a requirement.
  • Is a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  • Meets certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25).
  • Has signed a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve.

*If you have any questions about the Teacher Preparation and Certification Program, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page.

What Is the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve?

Each year you receive a TEACH Grant, you must complete a FAFSA application and sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve, available electronically on the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve website. The TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve specifies the conditions under which the grant will be awarded and the teaching service requirements. By signing, you are acknowledging your understanding 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 the grant funds were disbursed. Specifically, the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve will require the following:

  • For each TEACH Grant-eligible program for which you received TEACH Grant funds, you must serve as a full-time teacher for a total of at least four academic years within eight calendar years after you completed or withdrew from the academic program for which you received the TEACH Grant.
  • You must perform the teaching service as a highly qualified teacher** at a low-income school.***
  • Your teaching service must be in a high-need field.****
  • You must comply with any other requirements that the Department of Education determines to be necessary.
  • If you do not complete the required teaching service obligation, the TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan that you must repay, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement. For more information on the TEACH Grant, see the TEACH Grant section of the federal student aid website.

**Highly qualified teacher: The term "highly qualified teacher" is defined in section 9101(23) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 or in section 602(10) of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.

***Low-income school: 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. To access the Directory, please go here.

****High-need fields may include the following:

  • Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition.
  • Foreign Language.
  • Mathematics.
  • Reading Specialist.
  • Science.
  • Special Education.
  • Other identified teacher shortage areas as of the time you begin teaching in that field. These are teacher subject shortage areas (not geographic areas) that are listed in the Department of Education's Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing.

If you are interested in becoming a Louisiana-certified teacher through the Teacher Preparation and Certification Program at the Tulane School of Professional Advancement, a Federal TEACH Grant may provide some financial assistance. Learn more about the admissions process for the Education Program.