TEACH Grant Application for College of Education students

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 in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low income families. After reviewing the instructions, please complete the form.

TEACH Application Deadlines Heading link

Student Eligibility Requirements Heading link

• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in a postsecondary institution that participates in the TEACH Grant program.
• Be accepted in a program with course work that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or plan to complete such course work.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.25.
• Sign an annual TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve form.
• Complete mandatory annual TEACH Grant Counseling.

TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay Heading link

As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay in which you agree to (among other requirements) teach

• in a high-need field;
• at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families; and
• for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant.
• You must teach for at least four (4) academic years within eight (8) calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received the TEACH grant.
  • If you fail to complete this service obligation, ALL amounts of TEACH grant monies that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You must repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education and you will be charged interest from the date the grant was disbursed.

  Schools Serving Low-Income Students Heading link

  A school serving low-income students includes 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. Search the directory here.

  High-Need Teaching Fields Heading link

  Approved fields are those that have been identified as high-need by the federal government, a state government, or a local education agency, which is included in the annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing (Nationwide List). The following high-need fields apply for students enrolled at the UIC College of Education:

  • Bilingual and ESL Education (students earning ESL or Bilingual Endorsements)
  • Early Childhood Education Special Education Approval
  • Mathematics
  • Reading Specialist
  • Science
  • Special Education (students earning LBS I or LBS II Endorsements)

  Apply for a TEACH Grant Heading link

  Please complete each field to ensure timely processing. This form is for current UIC College of Education students only. If you are a prospective student or a student in another college, we cannot process your TEACH submission here.

  Processing may take up to six weeks after the semester begins. It is important to respond promptly to all correspondence from The Office of Student Financial Aid when received and to check your UIC email regularly.