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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 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 and master’s degree program that gives them the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in the most
challenging urban school environments. They also receive three years of one-on-one coaching to ensure they are developing into effective educators. Before becoming eligible for program completion and full certification, all participants are evaluated for effective teaching practice and the ability to improve student learning. Our teachers are among the most expert and results-oriented in the nation, assuming leadership roles and making the case for better teacher preparation and educator accountability.
3.
In which urban school districts is Urban Teachers working?Urban Teachers launched in the 2010-2011 school year in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. 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 Dallas/Fort Worth (pending state approval which is scheduled for April 15, 2016).
4.
Who should apply to Urban Teachers?Urban Teachers looks for individuals who experience 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
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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. You may be limited to specific sites based on state regulations. Teachers is also happy to talk to you about your options. Email [email protected] if you have any questions or contact [email protected].
7.
What are the application requirements?Every applicant must complete an online application located at
www.urbanteachers.org. The online application includes: • One short response
• Current resume
After the application, you will need to complete a digital performance task and final interview, send two recommendations and 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 (Elementary, Secondary English Language Arts and Secondary Mathematics) in each city. Also, school partner needs will determine which programs of study are offered in 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 a residency model similar a medical residency 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.
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10.
What kind of training do I receive?In the first two years of the program, participants work toward a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Educational Studies from Urban Teachers’ higher education partner—the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. 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 (Baltimore starts June 17; DC starts June 20 and Dallas/Fort Worth will start August 3). 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. They also cover the cost of health care through the Johns Hopkins University School of Education in year one (http://www.students.education.jhu.edu/insurance/), books and materials for the master’s degree and room and board for Summer Institute. There is a tuition of a total of $40,000 that is paid over the first two years of the program. Urban Teachers participants are responsible for their cost of living expenses and
technology—expenses that can be covered by a federal student loan during year one of the program. Urban Teachers applicants and residents are responsible for industry related fees including, but not limited to: state exam registration, testing
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and score reporting, state mandated public school fingerprinting and background checks, licensing and certification applications, and graduation.
15.
Is financial aid available?All Urban Teachers applicants are encouraged to complete a “Federal Access to Federal Student Aid” (FAFSA) form. You are applying to a graduate/professional program and should use the Johns Hopkins University School of Education’s code E00475. 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
https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/teach and
https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/charts/teacher#what-are-the-eligibility.
Urban Teachers also partners with the Central Scholarship Bureau (CSB). Applicants in DC and Baltimore can apply for grants and no-interest loans. See www.central-scholarship.org for more information. Their application is available January, 2016 through April 1, 2016. If you have any questions call CSB at 410-415-5558.
For more information, review the Financial Aid Options document or webinar located on our website here: http://www.urbanteachers.org/apply/.
You will need to know the academic credits for each semester for Financial aid. Each program of study contains a total of 48 credit hours. For Cohorts 2016 in Baltimore and Washington, DC, here is the overview of credits for each semester:
Summer 2016: 8 credits
Fall 2016: 15 Elementary; 14 Secondary Math; 12 Secondary ELA Spring 2017: 12 Elementary; 13 Secondary Math; 15 Secondary ELA Summer 2017: 8 credits
Fall 2017: 2 credits Spring 2017: 3 credits
Dallas/Fort Worth Cohort 2016 will have a slightly adjusted order of credits due to their abbreviated Summer Institute.
If you have questions about Financial Aid, please contact the Johns Hopkins University School of Education Financial Aid Office at [email protected], 410-516-9808, or Fax: 410-516-9799.
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16.
Can applicants use an AmeriCorps Education 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.
17.
Does Urban Teachers assist with relocating and finding housing?Residents start their 14-month residency at Summer Institute in June 2016 (June 17 for Baltimore; June 20 for DC and August 3 for the Dallas/Fort Worth Cohort). 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 email at [email protected].
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 content area during the application process. Program of study placements will be made prior to the start of Summer Institute in May 2016. Residency year placements are determined by a combination of needs of the partner schools, the resident program of study, and resident grade level and content preferences. School placements are determined by mid-July 2016. 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. Dallas/Fort Worth participants will also get an ESL Supplemental certification.
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:
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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, 2017. Applicants still apply through Urban Teachers’ online application and go through Urban Teachers’ selection process with regular decision applicants. If you receive an offer, you will be able to join Urban Teachers’ cohort in June 2017 provided you graduate on time, with the required GPA and pass the required pre-professional standardized tests.
23.
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. Deferral is non-binding and does not require a fee.