Loan Forgivness & Grants
Federal Loan Forgiveness for Teachers
Under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, if you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools and educational service agencies that serve low-income families, and you meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $17,500 on your Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and your Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. If you have PLUS loans only, you are not eligible for this type of forgiveness.
Teach Grants for Students
A Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) is different from other federal student grants because it requires you to agree to complete a teaching service obligation as a condition for receiving the grant. If you don’t complete the service obligation, the TEACH Grant will be converted to a loan that you must repay.
Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a grant.
Residencies & Fellows Programs
Teaching Residencies
Teaching residencies are typically 1 – 2 year programs that are similiar to intensive apprenticeships that include a master’s of arts in teaching in a particular subject, a teaching license, mentorship, and profesional support. They also include stipends typically as well as a service commitment after the residency period is complete. Some residencies to consider are listed below. There are other opportunities in the U.S as well.
- Boston Teacher Residency: Boston, MA
- Graduate Teaching Programs: KIPP Metro Atlanta Teaching Residency: Atlanta, GA
- Project NUTURE: Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
- Project Inspire Teacher Residency: Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Gwinnett County Public Schools (Georgia) STEM Teacher Residency Program – The GCPS STEM Resident Program is designed to help transition professionals from college or the workplace into the high school classroom. Spend a year learning how to teach from the experts while getting paid. Teacher STEM Resident positions are posted as regular jobs on the GCPS website under careers. Click on “Teachers” in the vacation sidebar and then search for “Tchr STEM Resident.” Residents spend one academic year working full-time as residents/interns at school teaching in STEM. A resident can not be hired the following year by the same school.
Fellows Program
Fellows programs vary in format. Some are graduate school cohorts, and others are one year, intensive apprenticeship experiences. Examples of some fellows programs are in the below links.
- Alliance of Catholic Education (ACE) – University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN prepares cohort members in its Masters of Education program to teach in Catholic schools across the country.
- Wesleyan School Faculty Fellows Program in Peachtree Corners, GA is designed to give one year of guidance, training, and experience to recent college graduates considering teaching as a career.
- Franklin Road Academy Fellows Program in Nashville, TN is designed for graduating seniors interested in teaching or coaching at the middle or high school level in independent schools.