Grants to Become a Teacher
Grants can be a student's best friend. These gifts of money for college never have to be repaid and can significantly lessen the out of pocket expense and debt that would otherwise be incurred for college. Fortunately, for those going into the teaching profession, there are a number of grants and loan forgiveness programs to take advantage of.
Pell Grant
This is a general purpose grant that is not only available for teachers, but all college students who meet certain qualifications, mostly based on income. However, there is a special exception for teachers. Usually, the grant is only available for those working on their first Bachelor's degree, but those who have earned their Bachelor's degree and are in a credentialed teaching program may also be able to take advantage of it.
Paraprofessional Grants
A number of paraprofessional educators may decide to move into the teaching profession as a certified teacher after being in the classroom for a while. A state may offer special grants for those who wish to become a teacher who have already worked as a paraprofessional. Check with your state or college academic adviser to see if your state offers such a grant.
Critical Need Grants
Many states have a need of teachers in hard to fill areas. These areas may be related to certain subjects, such as higher mathematics and science. They could also be related geographic areas, such as teaching in inner cities or rural areas. Those who commit to teaching in these areas could be eligible for grants, usually in the form of forgivable loans.
TEACH Grant
Similar to the state grants for areas of need, there is also a federal grant available called the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education. This grant is to encourage teachers in subject shortage areas, which may change from time to time. Often, this will include mathematics, science, foreign language and special education.
Private Grants
A number of organizations or agencies may offer private grants for those wanting to become teachers. An example of this would be the Rockefeller Brother Fund Fellowships for Aspiring Teachers of Color, now run by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. One of the qualifications for this grant is that teachers must be working on a Master's degree and a minority.
Financial Aid Application
In order to be eligible for most grants, including all federal grants, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application can be quite involved for those who have never filled one out before, taking an average of a couple of hours to complete. For those who have filled it out online, the process is much faster as much of the information will be saved and automatically filled in for subsequent years.
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