The University of Guam was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Education to begin providing TEACH grants to its students.  The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is a federal program that strives to encourage teachers into high-need teaching areas in K-12 schools that serve low-income students, a designation that is met by all Guam’s public schools.

The TEACH Grant is a conditional, non-need based grant available for eligible students pursuing a degree in a high need field. TEACH grants are not loans. Up to $4,000 can be awarded per year to full-time students with a cap of $16,000 for undergraduate programs and professional degrees, and $8,000 for graduate programs. Recipients must have a grade point average of 3.25 and agree to teach for four years in a public school that serves low income students.

High need teaching areas on Guam for 2010 -11 include:

TEACH Grant recipients must agree to teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which they received a TEACH Grant.  TEACH Grant recipients who do not complete the required teaching service will be required to repay the grants as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.