Student Eligibility Requirements

To receive a TEACH grant

To maintain eligibility during college

To maintain elegibility after college

To renew a TEACH grant

To receive a TEACH Grant, you must meet the following criteria:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); however, you do not have to demonstrate financial need.
• Meet the eligibility requirements for federal student aid.
• If you are in a Teacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) student, complete the Walden University Institutional Federal TEACH Grant Application (pdf).You will return this to teachgrant@waldenu.edu.
• Complete the Federal Teach Grant Disclosure Statement (pdf).You will return this to teachgrant@waldenu.edu.
• Be enrolled in one of the following Walden Programs of Study designated as TEACH Grant eligible (these programs are administered by Walden’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership):
  • Minnesota state-approved* special education endorsement programs
    • Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (K–12)
    • Learning Disabilities (K–12)
    • Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (K–12) with an M.S. in Education with a specialization in special education
    • Learning Disabilities (K–12) with an M.S. in Education with a specialization in special education
  • Minnesota state-approved† Teacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
    • Early Childhood Education (Birth–Grade 3)
    • Special Education, Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (K–12)
    • Special Education, Learning Disabilities (K–12)
  • M.S. in Education‡, with a specialization in one of the following:
    • Elementary Reading and Literacy (PreK–6)
    • Elementary Reading and Mathematics (Grades K–6)
    • Mathematics (Grades K–5)
    • Mathematics (Grades 6–8)
    • Science (Grades K–8)
    • Special Education (Non-Licensure) (Grades K–12)

*Not applicable in all states. Walden University’s endorsement programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching for endorsement or add-on licensure in Minnesota. Candidates for this program must already hold a valid P–12 teaching license. Note that in some states endorsements or add-on licensure can be awarded by passing a state-specified test, rather than completion of a course-based program. Walden’s enrollment advisors can provide individuals with guidelines and other information about endorsements. It remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with the out-of-state endorsement requirements for the state in which he or she seeks to be endorsed.

†Walden University’s teacher preparation program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching for licensure in Minnesota. Walden’s enrollment advisors can provide individuals with guidelines and other information about licensure. It remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with the out-of-state licensure requirements for the state in which he or she seeks to be licensed.

‡Please note: While Walden is regionally accredited, the M.S. in Education specializations listed in this section are not state approved and will not lead to initial licensure or endorsement in a state that requires the completion of a state approved program. Individuals entering the TEACH grant program are responsible for ensuring they can meet their state's licensure requirements upon graduation in order to teach in a high-need field and therefore satisfy the conditions of the grant.

• Complete a TEACH Grant Initial and Subsequent Counseling session. (Subsequent Counseling must be completed annually to renew your grant.)
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (see the General Eligibility and Requirements section below for more information).
• Respond to requests by the Department of Education confirming your continuing intention to meet the teaching service obligation.

During college, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a degree-seeking student.
• Take coursework necessary to complete teacher certification in a high-need field.
• Some students enrolled in Walden’s Teacher Preparation Program with a M.A.T. must, in addition to the requirements above, maintain at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA at Walden University.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Graduate students need to maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA (some students enrolled in the Teacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching program are required to maintain at least a 3.25 at Walden) and need to meet the 67% completion rate.

In order to maintain grant status after graduation or otherwise ceasing enrollment in a grant-eligible program, you must meet the following criteria:

• Complete the TEACH Grant Exit Counseling within 30 days of graduating.
• Serve as a full-time teacher in a low-income school, as a highly-qualified teacher, and in a high-need field for at least 4 years within 8 calendar years of leaving the program for which you received the TEACH Grant. For a listing of schools and teaching fields that qualify, visit the Nationwide List for the State in which you intend to teach.
• Write to the Secretary of Education (within 120 days of completing or otherwise leaving the program of study for which the TEACH Grant was received) confirming that you are employed as a full-time teacher in accordance with the terms of the TEACH Grant, or you are not yet employed as a full-time teacher but intend to meet the terms of the TEACH Grant service agreement.
• Upon completion of each year of teaching service, submit documentation of the service in the form of a certification by a chief administrative officer of the school.
• Comply with all other terms, conditions, and requirements that the Secretary of Education determines to be necessary.

To renew your TEACH Grant, submit the following:

• Complete your annual FAFSA form.
• If you are a Teacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) student, complete the Walden University Institutional TEACH Grant Application (pdf).You will return this to teachgrant@waldenu.edu.
• Complete the Federal Teach Grant Disclosure Statement (pdf).You will return this to teachgrant@waldenu.edu.
• Complete the TEACH Grant Initial or Subsequent Counseling from the Department of Education.
• Complete the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve from the Department of Education.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Graduate students need to maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA (some students enrolled in the Teacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching program are required to maintain at least a 3.25 at Walden) and need to meet the 67% completion rate.
• Please note: Each of the above steps must be completed annually in order to receive the TEACH Grant for an additional year.

IMPORTANT REMINDER
Failure to complete the teaching service obligation, respond to requests for information, or properly document your teaching service or otherwise lose eligibility for the grant will cause the TEACH Grant funds received to be permanently converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest.

For more information on the rules and regulations regarding this grant, please visit the Department of Education’s Web site at https://teach-ats.ed.gov/ats/index.action.