Teach For Texas Conditional Grant Program
(This is a students Loan with Cancellation Provisions for Teaching)

PROGRAM PURPOSE

The purpose of the program is to encourage students to become certified classroom 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 aggregate amount that may be awarded to a recipient in this program is currently 11,800. Annual awards will vary and are based upon the student’s anticipated program completion date, the amount of previous awards, and institutional packaging policies.

ELIGIBLE STUDENTS MUST:

1. obtain a recommendation from the dean of the college/school/or department of education.

2. have a current cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

3. have completed at least 75 percent of the semester credit hours attempted in the most recent academic year

4. submit an application for financial aid.

5. be enrolled at least ¾ time in an approved educator certification program as:
   a. a junior,
   b. a senior,
   c. a renewal recipient in the final fifth year required by some
       institutions in order to be recommended for certification, or
   d. a post-baccalaureate student enrolled for the first time in an
       educator certification program

6. enter into an agreement with the Coordinating Board committing to teach full time as a certified classroom 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.

7. sign a promissory note acknowledging the conditional nature of the grant and promising to repay the grant plus interest at an annual fixed interest rate of 7 percent and other charges stated in the promissory note.

RANKING CRITERIA

Due to limited funding only renewal applicants who continue to fulfill the program requirements will be guaranteed awards. The following criteria are used to rank all other 1st time applicants:

1. demonstrated financial need.

2. Texas residency, and

3. anticipated program completion date.

4. Additional ranking criteria may be determined by each institution

INELIGIBLE STUDENTS

1. Students who have been convicted of a felony or an offense under Chapter 481, Health and Safety code (Texas Controlled Substances Act), or under the law of another jurisdiction involving a controlled substance as defined in Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, are not eligible unless other applicable requirements set forth in rule have been met.

LIMITS TO CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY

Students who continue to meet all the criteria including enrollment may be eligible for the Teach for Texas conditional Grant is fixed at a single five-year period.

1. during the three years after receiving the first Teach for Texas Conditional Grant award.

2. for a maximum of 90 semester credit hours.

GRANT CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION

1. The teaching obligation incurred by accepting one or more awards through the Teach for Texas Conditional Grant is fixed at a single five-year period

2. If a recipient fails to maintain the requirements set forth below, in the promissory note and in the agreement to teach, the grant automatically becomes a loan.

3. To avoid repayment recipients must:
   a. Remain continuously enrolled at least ½ time in an eligible
       educator certification program,
   b. Maintain satisfactory academic progress, defined as:
           i. Completing at least 75 percent of the semester credit
              hours attempted in the most Recent academic year, and
          ii. Earning a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale;
   c. Become certified as a teacher within 18 months of the date
       of completion of the minimum educator preparation program
       requirements
   d. Begin and maintain continuous full-time eligible classroom
       teaching within 18 months of the date of completion of the
       minimum educator preparation program requirements; and

4. The loan repayment schedule will call for a minimum annual repayment of $1,200 or an amount required to repay the loan within 10 years whichever is greater.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 787111-800-242-3062 ext.6367 http://www.collegefortexans.com/cfbin/tofa2.cfm?id=43