TEACH Grant Bootcamp
When advertising the bootcamp distribute printed copies of the following:
· TEACH Grant Description: http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/4807Teach_FactSheet_v3.pdf
· FAFSA ready sheet: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before003.htm
· Your state’s teacher shortage areas: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.doc
What you’ll need for the workshop:
· access to a classroom with enough computers for each participant and internet access
· projection system capable of projecting what’s on the presenter’s computer screen, or copies of screenshots for all participants
· a separate area for lunch and a speaker
Agenda for Saturday Bootcamp
Session I: Intro and overview of the day (30 minutes)
§ Congratulate students in their expressed interest to become teachers.
§ Circulate a sign-in sheet that collects each student’s email address.
§ Stress that today’s goal is to get them familiar with the process of financial aid that will pay up to $4,000 of their college tuition each year if they agree to complete 4 years as teachers after graduation.
§ If your branch or unit has supplemental funds available, tell the students about those also.
§ Review the basic requirements of the TEACH grants and conversions to loans
§ Point out local schools on the high-needs list that are in your area using this website: https://www.tcli.ed.gov/CBSWebApp/tcli/TCLIPubSchoolSearch.jsp. Students will likely react by sharing the “reputation” of these schools. Explain that one reason these schools might have a bad reputation is that they need to attract great teachers who can help students learn. Participants in this program will help turn these schools with a negative reputation around by becoming well-prepared and committed to serving in these communities.
Q & A
Break
Session II: Don’t Fear the FAFSA! (30 minutes)
Presentation on federal student aid form – guidance counselor, admissions counselor (30 minutes)
§ Briefly explain the 3 sections of the website
§ Stress that students must complete the FAFSA even though TEACH grants are not need-based
§ Make sure students get their PIN via email (they’ll need it to access parts of the TEACH grant website later)
Q & A
Exploring the FAFSA website – (1 hour)
§ Let students begin the process.
o Stress that it’s ok if they don’t have all the documentation. They can always come back later.
o Students should at least apply for and receive the PIN to make signatures easier on the FAFSA and the TEACH grant application
Break for Lunch
§ Lunch should incorporate members from the local youth and college chapter to discuss majors, coursework requirements and study skills that high school students can perfect now to make college easier.
§ A keynote speaker could poll the audience on how many teachers of color they may have had and why it’s important that we have more.
Session III: The TEACH process
§ Share video overview from local university if possible (see resources list)
§ Explore the TEACH website with the group: https://teach-ats.ed.gov/ats/index.action
o Point out the major segments on the left
o Highlight the agreement to serve – perhaps with a student who has already begun the process and can use his or her PIN to open the agreement section
§ Let students go through the initial counseling session and/or their school’s application if they have already selected a school
§ Have volunteers circulate to answer individual questions and point out common questions to the group
o use youth and college members, admissions counselors or guidance counselors;
o appoint an Association member to keep a log of questions that can’t be answered onsite and the which students need which answers
§ Commit verbally to get students answers via email within two weeks.
Serve snack
§ Adjourn with announcement of next steps (follow-up emails, Q & A session with an expert, next branch meeting etc)
§ Debrief the questions with the expert volunteers after the meeting and make a plan to find answers and forward them to the students.
Resources:
FAFSA Website: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
TEACH Grant website: https://teach-ats.ed.gov/ats/index.action