Learning and fun combine at the Early Learning Center (ELC), a program of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences (CESHS) on the UAH campus. Early childhood professionals who want to advance their education while remaining in the workforce can apply for financial assistance through the Teacher Education and Compensations Helps (TEACH) Early Childhood Alabama Scholarship, one of two separate TEACH grants available through CESHS.
Michael Mercier | UAH
From early childhood classrooms to secondary schools, there’s a growing need for dedicated, well-prepared teachers. The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences (CESHS) helps meet that need through two TEACH grant programs that provide financial assistance to qualified students who dream of filling these vital roles. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System.
“At UAH, we are committed to helping students turn their aspirations of becoming teachers into reality,” said Dr. Beth Quick, dean of the CESHS. “These TEACH grant programs reduce financial barriers while also strengthening the education workforce across our state and region.”
Although both programs share the TEACH acronym, they differ in name, focus, eligibility and funding source.
Federal grant for service
The first TEACH – the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant – is a federal program offered through the U.S. Department of Education.
Eligible students can receive up to $3,772 annually – four years for undergraduates, two years for graduate students. In return, recipients agree to teach for an equivalent number of years in high-need fields at elementary or secondary schools serving low-income students. If the service obligation is not fulfilled, the grant converts to a federal unsubsidized loan.
These UAH programs meet requirements for the federal TEACH grant:
- Mathematics education – B.S. or M.A.T. in secondary education, concentration in math
- Science education – B.S. in secondary education, concentration options include biology, chemistry, general science and physics, or M.A.T. in secondary education, concentration options include biology, chemistry or physics
- Foreign languages education – B.S. in secondary education, world languages concentration
- English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – M.A.T. and M.Ed. with concentration in ESOL
- Special education – B.A. in elementary education or B.S. in secondary education with collaborative concentration, or M.A.T. in collaborative education, or M.Ed. with concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) if candidate is not already licensed in special education
- Elementary education – B.A. or M.A.T. in elementary education
- Early childhood education/early childhood special education – B.S. in early childhood/early childhood special education
- English language arts – B.S. or M.A.T. in secondary education, concentration in English language arts
According to Alabama’s 2025-26 High-Needs Report, elementary education, English language arts and special education are among the state’s most critical teacher shortage areas – fields where TEACH grant recipients can make an immediate impact.
State help for professionals
The second TEACH opportunity – the Teacher Education and Compensations Helps (TEACH) Early Childhood Alabama Scholarship – supports early childhood professionals seeking to advance their education while remaining in the workforce.
Funded by the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, the scholarship is administered through the Alabama Partnership for Children.
Eligible participants must meet these requirements:
- Work at least 20 hours a week in a DHR-licensed child care facility or a First-Class Pre-K classroom,
- Be employed by a sponsoring program,
- Have a minimum of 55 hours of transferable college credit.
The scholarship covers 80% of tuition and books, provides a travel stipend and offers release time as well as educational bonuses and incentives.
Dr. Jeremy Elliott, CESHS associate dean and associate professor, summed up the importance of the two TEACH programs for current and potential UAH students and the community at large:
“There’s a chance we’re missing one of the great teachers out there because they can’t afford school. It’s rewarding to help remove financial barriers and support people entering a field where they are so greatly needed.”
To learn more about the TEACH options, contact ceshs@uah.edu.