This is a Student Loan with cancellation provisions for teaching.
The Teach for Texas Grant is received only after the student is accepted into the teacher education program.
PROGRAM PURPOSE
The purpose of the program is to encourage students to become certified teachers and to encourage these newly certified teachers to teach in a field having a critical shortage of teachers or in communities having a critical shortage of teachers.
AWARDS
The maximum amount that may be awarded in a lifetime of recipient is currently $10,752. Annual awards will range from $3,584 to $10,752 based upon the applicant's anticipated program completion date as well as previous awards.
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS MUST:
- obtain a recommendation from the dean of the college/school/or department of education.
- have a current cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- have completed at least 75 percent of the semester credit hours attempted in the most recent academic year.
- demonstrate financial need.
- submit an application for financial aid.
- be enrolled at least 3/4 time in an approved educator certification program as:
- a junior
- a senior
- a renewal recipient in the final fifth year required by some institutions in order to be recommended for certification, or
- a post-baccalaureate student enrolled for the first time in an educator certification program.
- enter into an agreement with the Coordinating Board committing to teach full time as a certified teacher for five years at the preschool, primary, or secondary level in a public school in Texas in the person's chosen critical shortage field or in a community experiencing a critical teacher shortage.
- sign a promissory note acknowledging the conditional nature of the grant and promising to repay the grant plus interest at an annual fixed rate of 7 percent and other charges stated in the promissory note.
PROGRAM PURPOSE
The purpose of the program is to provide a grant of money to enable well-prepared eligible students to attend public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education in Texas.
Who can compete for an award? A student who:
- is a Texas resident;
- graduated from a public or accredited private high school in Texas no earlier than Fall 1998;
- completed the recommended or distinguished achievement high school curriculum or its equivalent(1) (2);
- has financial need;
- has applied for any available financial aid or assistance;
- enrolls at least 3/4 time in an undergraduate degree or certificate program and received his/her first TEXAS Grant within 16 months of high school graduation; and
- has not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving a controlled substance
When should students apply?
Deadlines vary by institution, but fall and spring grants are generally awarded in the spring prior to enrollment.
How much can a student receive through the program?
The award amount depends on the tuition and fees to be paid by the student. In general, it is an amount equal to the student's tuition and required fees at public institutions. (For 2002-2003, approximately $1,475 per semester for public university students; $635 per semester for community college students; and $870 per semester for technical college students, based on enrollment of 12 hours per semester.) Private institution awards are based on the public university amount.
Is this a one-time award?
No. Students can continue in college and meet program academic standards can receive awards for up to 150 credit hours or for six years or until they receive their bachelor's degree, whichever occurs first. In the first year of college, the academic standards are set by the institution. In subsequent years, the requirements are completion of at least 75 percent of the hours taken in the prior year, plus an overall college GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
How do students apply?
Awards will be made through the financial aid office of the college. Persons interested in the program should contact the financial aid office to find out about deadlines and procedures.
(1) If a student's public high school did not offer all courses necessary to complete the curriculum, the district must certify to the Texas Education agency that the high school did not offer all of the courses, and the high school counselor must certify that the student completed all courses toward such a curriculum that the school had to offer.
(2) In addition to other eligibility requirements, the transcript for a student who graduated from an accredited private high school must include information indicating that the student has completed or is scheduled to complete the equivalent of the recommended or distinguished achievement curriculum.