Several programs provide tuition aid, exemptions and grants, and housing assistance for educators.
The federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher (TEACH) Education Grant is a merit based, student loan program that provides up to $4000 per year for students who pursue coursework that leads to a certification in teaching.
Teachers must agree to teach for four years in a high-need field in a low-income school (within eight years of completing the program for which the TEACH Grant was awarded).
Current teachers or retirees with expertise in a high-need field are also eligible when pursuing a master’s degree or special certification through a high-quality alternative certification route (note: additional requirements apply).
Students must meet certain academic achievement requirements and be enrolled in a TEACH-Grant eligible program of study. The TEACH grant programs vary among institutions and if a recipient does not fulfill the service obligation, their TEACH Grants are converted to Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
Go to: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach#eligible-programs.
The Pell Grant is awarded entirely based on financial need and is typically only available to first-time undergraduate students. Unlike a loan, Pell Grant recipients do not have to pay back the federal government for the award. The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2025-2026 award year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026) is $7,395.
Go to: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell.
The Teach for Texas Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment assistance for eligible teachers who submit an annual application to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The THECB determines the maximum annual loan repayment assistance amount a teacher may be eligible for under this program. To receive loan repayment assistance, an applicant must:
Teachers may qualify for education loan repayment assistance for a maximum of five service periods. The next application period will open in spring 2026.
The 2025-26 teacher shortage areas have been approved by the U.S. Department of Education. The following are critical shortage areas allowing individuals to apply for TEACH Grants and/or Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
For more information visit: https://www.hhloans.com/teach-for-texas-loan-repayment-assistance-program/.
The Educational Aide Exemption program allows any current school employee who has worked as an educational aide for at least one of the last five years to qualify for college tuition and fee exemptions while seeking teacher certification.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board oversees state tuition assistance programs. Call 800-242-3062.
For more information visit: https://www.hhloans.com/types-of-financial-aid/educational-aide-exemption/.
Congress designed the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program to encourage individuals to pursue jobs in public service. The program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Federal Student Loans for eligible public service employees, including teachers, after they make 120 monthly qualifying payments (10 years) under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For teachers, this typically includes those employed full-time in public schools or qualifying non-profit private schools. Individuals must periodically submit certification forms to verify that your employment and payments qualify. Further requirements can be found here: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.
The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program enables teachers who have federal student loans and serve in a designated low-income school or in a subject-matter shortage area to cancel or defer certain student loans up to $17,500. Individuals must have been employed as a full-time, highly qualified teacher for five complete and consecutive academic years. Find more details here: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/teacher#eligibility.
Income-driven repayment (IDR) plans generally set your monthly student loan payment at an amount that is intended to be affordable based on your income. Requirements on this program are changing as the result of recent legislation. HR 1, signed into law in July 2025, has introduced changes to IDR, including modifications to the Income-Based Repayment plan and the creation of a new plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan.
Starting July 1, 2028, the Office of Federal Student Aid will phase out several existing IDR plans, including Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), Pay as You Earn (PAYE), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). Borrowers currently enrolled in these plans must transition to a new repayment plan by July 1, 2028, or be automatically placed in the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) or Income-Based Repayment (IBR) if eligible. For new borrowers with loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, only two repayment plans are available:
For more information, see https://studentaid.gov/.
Educators are eligible for several programs benefiting homebuyers operated by the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation. The Homes for Texas Heroes and Home Sweet Texas Home Loan programs provide low-interest 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loans to eligible homebuyers. Additionally, the Mortgage Credit Certificate program reduces tax liability. To qualify, homebuyers must meet program requirements, including income and home purchase price limits.
Learn more about these programs at https://www.tsahc.org/homebuyers-renters.
State-certified K-12 teachers may be eligible for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Good Neighbor Next Door program.
Copyright© 2026 Texas Classroom Teachers Association® The Educated Choice® All rights reserved.