Financial Aid       

West Chester University

25 University Avenue, Suite #030
West Chester, PA 19383
Phone: (610) 436-2627
Fax: (610) 436-2574


TEACH Grant

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach high-need subjects in a designated high need schools that serves students from low-income families.

Conditions

As a recipient of a TEACH Grant, you must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant.


IMPORTANT: If you fail to complete your service obligation , all amounts of TEACH Grants that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, which will be charged accrued interest from the date the grant(s) was disbursed. TEACH Grant recipients will be given a six-month grace period prior to entering repayment if a TEACH Grant is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.


Eligibility Requirements

1. Complete a FAFSA  at www.fafsa.gov

    For a Summer 2013 TEACH Grant a 2012-2013 FAFSA must be on file.

    For a 2013-2014 TEACH Grant a 2013-2014 FAFSA must be on file.

2. U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen

3. Have and maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA. Transfer and Graduate students may be required to submit official transcripts.  

4. Be enrolled in an eligible TEACH Grant Program of Study (Review the document provided below).

5. Participate in the required initial, subsequent, and exit counseling sessions throughout the life of the grant.

6. Formal Admission to Teacher Education (FATE) as defined by the College of Education.

Formal Admission to Teacher Education is the written process that confirms a student's intent to peruse teacher certification at WCU in a teacher education program.  The student must have earned a minimum of 48 credits at the college level to be granted FATE.

Eligible Programs of Study

Please review the list of eligible TEACH Grant Programs of Study at WCU. Only students who satisfy the eligibility requirements above, who have been granted Formal Admission to Teacher Education (FATE) as defined by the College  of Education may be considered for a TEACH grant at West Chester University.

How Do I Apply

Students who meet the requirements above who are interested in participating in the program are required to complete the following steps:

   

    1.  Complete the online TEACH Grant Initial Counseling

    2.  Submit the TEACH Grant Request Form to the Financial Aid Office

Once steps 1 & 2 above have been completed and if students qualify for the program, they will receive an email communication to their WCU email account notifying them of their TEACH Grant eligibility and instructions on completing the last step.


    3.  Complete the online TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve


The application steps listed above must be completed each year the student wants to participate in the program.

Summer applicants are required to complete a separate Summer TEACH Grant Request Form and will be considered for the maximum amount of award eligibility remaining for that academic year. For example, if a student was to receive $2000 in the fall and $500 in the spring he/she would only qualify for a maximum of $1500 for the summer term for a total of a $4000 grant.

 

Award Amounts starting March 1, 2012

Enrollment Status
Annual Amount
Term Amount
Full Time
$3,716
$1,858
Three Quarter Time
$2,787
$1,394
Half Time
$1,858
$   929
Less than Half Time
$   929
$   465

 

Requirements after receiving TEACH Grant Funding:

  • All students are required to complete the TEACH Grant Exit Counseling after graduating or ceasing enrollment at West Chester University. TEACH Exit Counseling should be completed online at www.nslds.ed.gov.
  • Students have 120 days to report to the Department of Education their current employment status (whether or not   they are employed full time in a qualifying field and school).
  • Students who are employed full time in a qualifying school and field will be provided with a form by the  Department of Education and are required to submit that form and supporting documentation on an annual basis in order to document their teaching service.

Additional Resources