§1070g–1 — Title 20 Education | U.S. Code

§1070g–1 Program established

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 28— - HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Part Part A— - Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education › Subpart subpart 9— - teach grants › § 1070g–1

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Education Department must give money to eligible colleges so they can award TEACH Grants of $4,000 a year to teacher candidates who apply, agree to the program rules, and meet the eligibility requirements. At least 85% of the money given to a college must be sent before each payment period based on what the college asks for, unless the Department puts the college on a reimbursement plan or creates a different payment system. If a college does not take part, the Department may pay students directly before the term starts. Schools may credit a student’s account only for tuition and fees and, if the school owns the housing, room and board; students can agree to have other approved goods or services charged to their account. If a student attends less than full time, the grant is reduced in proportion to how much less they attend, following a reduction schedule the Department sets. Total federal and other aid cannot be more than the student’s cost of attendance. For undergraduates or post-baccalaureate students, grants cover the time needed to finish their first undergraduate or post-baccalaureate program (noncredit or remedial periods do not count), and the total award limit is $16,000. For graduate students, grants cover the time to finish a master’s degree and the total limit is $8,000. Noncredit or remedial courses and approved study-abroad credit can count if the school finds them necessary.

Title 20, §1070g–1

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary shall pay to each eligible institution such sums as may be necessary to pay to each teacher candidate who files an application and agreement in accordance with section 1070g–2 of this title, and who qualifies under paragraph (2) of section 1070g–2(a) of this title, a TEACH Grant in the amount of $4,000 for each year during which that teacher candidate is in attendance at the institution.

(2)Grants made under paragraph (1) shall be known as “Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants” or “TEACH Grants”.

(b)(1)Not less than 85 percent of any funds provided to an eligible institution under subsection (a) shall be advanced to the eligible institution prior to the start of each payment period and shall be based upon an amount requested by the institution as needed to pay teacher candidates until such time as the Secretary determines and publishes in the Federal Register with an opportunity for comment, an alternative payment system that provides payments to institutions in an accurate and timely manner, except that this sentence shall not be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to place an institution on a reimbursement system of payment.

(2)Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit the Secretary from paying directly to teacher candidates, in advance of the beginning of the academic term, an amount for which teacher candidates are eligible, in cases where the eligible institution elects not to participate in the disbursement system required by paragraph (1).

(3)Payments under this subpart shall be made, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary for such purpose, in such manner as will best accomplish the purposes of this subpart. Any disbursement allowed to be made by crediting the teacher candidate’s account shall be limited to tuition and fees and, in the case of institutionally-owned housing, room and board. The teacher candidate may elect to have the institution provide other such goods and services by crediting the teacher candidate’s account.

(c)(1)In any case where a teacher candidate attends an eligible institution on less than a full-time basis (including a teacher candidate who attends an eligible institution on less than a half-time basis) during any year, the amount of a grant under this subpart for which that teacher candidate is eligible shall be reduced in proportion to the degree to which that teacher candidate is not attending on a full-time basis, in accordance with a schedule of reductions established by the Secretary for the purposes of this subpart, computed in accordance with this subpart. Such schedule of reductions shall be established by regulation and published in the Federal Register in accordance with section 1089 of this title.

(2)The amount of a grant awarded under this subpart, in combination with Federal assistance and other assistance the student may receive, shall not exceed the cost of attendance (as defined in section 1087ll of this title) at the eligible institution at which that teacher candidate is in attendance.

(d)(1)The period during which an undergraduate or post-baccalaureate student may receive grants under this subpart shall be the period required for the completion of the first undergraduate baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate course of study being pursued by the teacher candidate at the eligible institution at which the teacher candidate is in attendance, except that—

(A)any period during which the teacher candidate is enrolled in a noncredit or remedial course of study as described in paragraph (3) shall not be counted for the purpose of this paragraph; and

(B)the total amount that a teacher candidate may receive under this subpart for undergraduate or post-baccalaureate study shall not exceed $16,000.

(2)The period during which a graduate student may receive grants under this subpart shall be the period required for the completion of a master’s degree course of study pursued by the teacher candidate at the eligible institution at which the teacher candidate is in attendance, except that the total amount that a teacher candidate may receive under this subpart for graduate study shall not exceed $8,000.

(3)Nothing in this section shall be construed to exclude from eligibility courses of study which are noncredit or remedial in nature (including courses in English language acquisition) which are determined by the eligible institution to be necessary to help the teacher candidate be prepared for the pursuit of a first undergraduate baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree or certificate or, in the case of courses in English language instruction, to be necessary to enable the teacher candidate to utilize already existing knowledge, training, or skills. Nothing in this section shall be construed to exclude from eligibility programs of study abroad that are approved for credit by the home institution at which the teacher candidate is enrolled.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2007—Subsecs. (a)(1), (c)(1). Pub. L. 110–153, § 3(2)(A), substituted “year” for “academic year”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 110–153, § 3(2)(B), substituted “other assistance the student may receive” for “other student assistance” and struck out at end “If, with respect to any teacher candidate for any academic year, it is determined that the amount of a TEACH Grant exceeds the cost of attendance for that year, the amount of the TEACH Grant shall be reduced until such grant does not exceed the cost of attendance at the eligible institution.”