Frequently Asked Questions

Transcription

1 Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is Urban Teachers? Urban Teachers is a non-profit organization with a transformational teacher preparation model. Urban Teachers recruits outstanding applicants, equips them with state-of-the-art training, and links their certification to their demonstration of effective teaching performance. Urban Teachers does not run its own schools. We partner with both traditional and charter public schools in high-need urban areas. Urban Teachers is focused on training the nation s most effective teachers. 2. What makes Urban Teachers different from other teacher preparation programs? All of our teachers are prepared through a residency model and a breakthrough Master s of Education program (Secondary Math and Special Education; Secondary English Language Arts and Special Education; and Elementary Education and Special Education) that gives our teachers the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the most challenging urban school environments. Before becoming eligible for program completion and full certification, all Urban Teachers participants must demonstrate effective teaching practice. At the end of the four-year program, Urban Teachers graduates will promote teacher effectiveness and accountability as leaders in their schools and districts. Over time, these teachers will be among the most expert and results-oriented in the nation, assuming teacher leadership roles and making the public case for better teacher preparation and educator accountability. 3. In which urban school districts is Urban Teachers working? Urban Teachers launched in the school year in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. Urban Teachers participants currently serve in Baltimore City Public Schools and DC Public Schools, as well as both cities largest charter management organizations. Urban Teachers is excited to announce that they will be expanding to the Dallas, TX metropolitan area in June Who should apply to Urban Teachers? Urban Teachers looks for individuals who experience the following core competencies:

2 A. Academically Excellent B. Takes Responsibility for Actions (Internal Locus of Control) C. Learner s Stance D. Committed to Children and Youth and Education Equity E. Growth Mindset/Professionalism Urban Teachers prefers a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. All applicants must have their undergraduate degree by late June, 2016 (or by June, 2017 if applying for Early Decision). See the Eligibility Requirements document for additional information. 5. Does Urban Teachers accept education majors? Urban Teachers accepts ALL majors in all academic disciplines. 6. What if I already have a teacher certification? Urban Teachers accepts applicants with current or prior teacher certification (or licensure); however, these will need to be disclosed to Urban Teachers in the application. Please review the Eligibility Requirements for further details. 7. What are the application requirements? Every applicant must complete an online application located at The online application includes: One short response Current resume After the application, you will need to complete a digital performance task, complete a final interview, send two recommendations, send your undergraduate transcript, and pass state pre-professional tests. These requirements are discussed in more detail in the Application Checklist. 8. Is there an advantage to applying early? Yes. There are only a limited number of spots for Cohort 2016, with specific numbers of slots reserved for each program of study and each city. It is best to apply earlier to secure your spot in your city and program of study preference. Also applying early gives you more time to re-take state entrance exams if you do not pass on the first attempt. 9. Am I a full-time teacher the first year of the program? No. Unlike many other teacher preparation programs, Urban Teachers believes in preparing teachers using the medical model where individuals serve as residents for a full year. First year participants are placed in host classrooms where they serve in a co-teaching role with an experienced teacher while they are earning their master s degree. FAQs 2

3 10. What kind of training do I receive? In the first two years of the program, participants work toward a Master s degree with a dual focus in Elementary Education and Special Education, Secondary English Language Arts and Special Education, or Secondary Mathematics and Special Education from Urban Teachers higher education partner. The goal for graduate coursework is to dramatically increase residents content knowledge, instructional strategies, and classroom management through clinical experiences. Coursework is supplemented by the opportunity to learn from other teachers and work directly with students in classrooms for 14 months starting in June 2016 receiving over 1,500 clinical hours during that time. Residents also receive 36 hours of one-on-one coaching visits during their residency year another 36 hours during their first year of teaching and 16 more coaching hours during their second year of teaching. 11. What will my day look like the first year and second year of the program? Urban Teachers participants spend their first year as residents. Urban Teachers residents are generally in their schools about 75% of their time and in graduate coursework for the remainder. In year two of the program, residents become teachers of record with a full-time teaching schedule. Urban Teachers participants complete their final master s coursework by the end of the second year. 12. Will I work with other residents in Cohort 2016? An important feature of the Urban Teachers program is that residents and teachers in each cohort will be placed together in schools. Urban Teachers believes that teaching needs to be collaborative so individuals can constantly learn from and support each other. 13. Does Urban Teachers place teachers in PreK-12 schools? Urban Teachers places teachers in all grade levels based on the needs of students, not resident preferences. Your program of study and placement will determine your certification areas. 14. Do residents get paid in the first year? Are there any costs to residents? Urban Teachers provides a $20,000 stipend during the residency year of the program. They also provide health care in year one, pay for books and materials for your master s degree and provide room and board for Summer Institute. There is a tuition charge of $40,000 that is paid over the first two years of the program. All Urban Teachers participants are responsible for their cost of living expenses and technology all expenses that can be covered in a federal student loan during year one of the program. Urban Teachers applicants and residents are responsible for FAQs 3

4 industry related fees including, but not limited to: state exam registration, testing and score reporting, state mandated public school fingerprinting and background checks, and licensing and certification applications. 15. Is financial aid available? All Urban Teachers applicants are encouraged to complete a Federal Access to Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. During the first year of the program, residents are typically considered full-time graduate students. They are not obligated to pay back previous financial aid incurred from undergraduate or other graduate programs. Urban Teachers participants are encouraged to apply for the TEACH Grant and may be eligible for loan forgiveness if they work in a high-needs school for five consecutive years (two additional years beyond Urban Teachers program). For additional information, visit and Urban Teachers also partners with the Central Scholarship Bureau (CSB). Urban Teachers applicants in DC and Baltimore can apply for grants and no-interest loans. See for more information. Their application will be available in January, 2016 and will be due on or around April 1, If you have any questions call CSB at See the Financial Aid Options for more information. 16. Can applicants use an AmeriCorps Ed Award for program costs? Yes! If an applicant is an AmeriCorps alum that earned an Eli Segal Education Award, they can use it towards tuition or cost of living expenses. Contact AmeriCorps directly to learn about all the opportunities available Does Urban Teachers assist with relocating and finding housing? Residents start their 14-month residency at Summer Institute in June Urban Teachers pays for room and board during Summer Institute. Urban Teachers staff and current residents provide guidance about desirable places to live. In Baltimore, Urban Teachers partners with Seawall Property Management a company that developed housing specifically for teachers. For more information please contact Matt Pinto via matt@seawalldevelopment.com. 18. How will I get placed in the first and second year of the program? Applicants have the opportunity to state their preference for city, grade level and FAQs 4

5 content area during the application process. Program of study placements will be made prior to the start of Summer Institute in May, Residency year placements are determined by a combination of needs at the partner schools, the resident program of study, and resident grade level and content preferences. School placements are determined by mid-july Ideally, residents will continue at their schools as teachers in years 2, 3, and 4, but in certain instances, Urban Teachers will support the resident in finding a teaching position at another school. 19. When do you get state teacher licensure/certification through Urban Teachers? Participants who successfully complete their third year of the program by meeting all Urban Teachers expectations are eligible for full state licensure/certification in either Elementary, Secondary English Language Arts or Secondary Math AND Special Education through Urban Teachers. Specific grade bands differ by state. 20. What happens if I have to leave the program before the end of four years? If a program participant voluntarily or involuntarily leaves the program early, the individual is liable to Urban Teachers to pay an early exit fee. The maximum owed will not exceed $10,000. All liabilities will be included in the resident contract and available for review prior to the start of Summer Institute. 21. What is the application timeline? When will I know if I m accepted? For each application deadline, Urban Teachers staff review and score all components of the completed applications to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. They specifically look for the following core competencies: A. Academically Excellent B. Takes Responsibility for Actions (Internal Locus of Control) C. Learner s Stance D. Committed to Children and Youth and Education Equity E. Growth Mindset/Professionalism Applicants who pass through the application review will participate in a digital performance task. Successful digital interviewees will be invited to attend a final interview. Final Interviews are scheduled all across the country from October 2015 through May 2016 in person and virtually. 22. Can I apply Early Decision? Yes, juniors in college may apply as long as they are scheduled to graduate by June 20, Applicants still apply through Urban Teachers online application and go through Urban Teachers selection process with regular decision applicants. If you receive an FAQs 5

6 offer, you will be able to join Urban Teachers cohort in June If I am accepted, can I defer a year? Yes, you may be accepted and defer up to one year. However, because the program may change over time, any deferred resident would be subject to the program requirements for the cohort year in which he/she is actually participating. If you have additional questions please admissions@urbanteachers.org. FAQs 6