ACG, SMART and TEACH Grants Presented by Jennifer Hutchinson Senior Associate Director, UMF

1. ACG, SMART and TEACH Grants Presented by Jennifer Hutchinson Senior Associate Director, UMF

2. Academic Competitiveness Grants

3. Session Topics • Background • Award amounts • Eligibility criteria • Rigorous secondary school program of study • How students apply • What counselors can do

4. Background • One of two grant programs created by The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) • National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent, or SMART, Grants for third and fourth year students • Encourage students to be academically prepared for college • Help maintain U.S. competitiveness in global economy

5. Award Amounts • $750 for first year students • $1,300 for second year students

6. ACG Eligibility Criteria • Federal Pell Grant recipient for same award year • First or second year student in: • A two or four year degree program; or • A one or two year certificate program offered at a two or four-year degree-granting institution • Completion of a rigorous secondary school program

7. ACG Eligibility Criteria:First Year Students • Not previously enrolled as a degree seeking student in an undergraduate program while enrolled in high school and below the age of compulsory attendance • Completed secondary program of study after January 1, 2006

8. ACG Eligibility Criteria:Second Year Students • Completed secondary program of study after January 1, 2005 • Has at least a 3.0 GPA in an eligible program at end of first year of college • GPA only checked once, at end of first year

9. Rigorous Secondary School Program • State designated programs • Coursework designated by the Secretary • AP/IB

10. State Designated Programs • An advanced or honors diploma established by a state and in existence for the 2004-05 or 2005-06 school years • State Scholar’s Initiative • Submitted state recognized plan

11. Coursework Designated by the Secretary • 4 years of English • 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I and higher) • 3 years of science (biology, chemistry, physics) • 3 years of social studies • 1 year of a foreign language

12. Coursework Designated by the State of Maine • 4 years of English • 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I and higher) • 3 years of science (unspecified) • 2 years of social studies

13. AP/IB • Successful completion of any secondary school program for a student who completes at least two courses with a minimum passing test score on the exams in those courses • Score of at least 3 for Advanced Placement • Score of at least 4 for International Baccalaureate

14. Documenting Completion of Rigorous Programs • Colleges required to collect and retain documentation that a student meets at least one of the options • Colleges may document the program option that is the most efficient for them • Students may be eligible under more than one definition of rigorous program

15. How Students Apply:FAFSA on the Web • Submit FAFSA • If data indicates possible eligibility, prompted to answer questions

16. How Students Apply:Paper FAFSA • Student Aid Report (SAR) indicates possible eligibility • Instructed to call Federal Student Aid Center at 1-800-4FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) to answer questions about eligibility

17. How Students Apply:Self Identification Self identify to financial aid office at college: • In person or in writing • Will need to submit documentation

18. What Counselors Can Do • Encourage students to take rigorous courses • Provide documentation of completion of rigorous program • In a timely manner • to students or directly to colleges • Tell students about the program

19. Resources • http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/about/ac-smart/state-programs.html • Rigorous high school program codes • Submit a question feature

20. National SMART Grants(National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent)

21. SMART Grant Information • Award amounts: $4,000 for each of the 3rd and 4th academic year of an eligible program of study • Link for more information: www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN0706.html

22. SMART Eligibility Criteria • Must be enrolled in an eligible major (Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Technology) • Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale • Must be a Federal Pell Grant recipient for same award year

23. TEACH Grant(Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education)

24. Award Amounts • $4,000 per year up to a maximum of $16,000

25. TEACH Grant Eligibility Criteria • Students must agree to teach full-time for four years (within 8 years) • Must be a ‘Highly Qualified Teacher’ • Must teach in a Title I (low income) elementary or secondary school • Must teach in a designated teacher shortage area (i.e. Math, Science, Foreign Language, Special Education, other high need fields)

26. Additional TEACH Grant Information • Institutions have the option to participate in the TEACH Grant Program • If student does not satisfy teaching requirement, grant converts to Direct Unsubsidized Loan and interest accrues from date of disbursement • Mandatory counseling required of all students who are eligible for a TEACH Grant

27. Applying for a TEACH Grant • FAFSA is the TEACH Grant application • Question on the FAFSA • Response from student is a ‘Yes or No’ answer • Students must complete and sign an Agreement to Serve to receive TEACH Grant funds

28. What Counselors Can Do • Tell students about the program but caution them to research criteria before they sign any agreement • Refer students to www.teachgrant.ed.gov for information about TEACH Grants • Know that currently no schools in Maine are participating in the program

29. Questions