The Troops to Teachers Program is a $5,000.00 stipend to assist eligible military personnel (eligible means that they are either retired, within one year of retiring with approved retirement date, or honorably discharged with 6 or more years of service and willing to obligate in the active reserves on a three year contract) in paying for any approved teacher program in any state (the stipend can not be used for Principalships and Guidance Counselors), above the required Bachelor's Degree at any accredited college. If they accept the stipend, they have an obligation to Troops to Teachers that they'll teach in a high need school district for three years (high need for Troops to Teachers purposes means that 20% or more of the students in the school district are below poverty level (see the Virginia Poverty level listing on our Information link).  In the event that they are hired to teach in an actual school house within one of these school districts where 50% or more of the students are on free or reduced lunches or their Individual Disability Education Act (IDEA) percentage exceeds 13.50% or more, they would also be eligible for a $5,000.00 bonus for teaching in that school. Acceptance of any monies obligates the Troops to Teachers participant to teach for three years in a poverty level school.