According to the No Child Left Behind Act, every corps member must be enrolled in a University Intern Credentialing Program in order to be considered “highly qualified” and therefore eligible to teach. Nearly all Los Angeles corps members earn a California teaching credential and master's degree in education during their two-year commitment. You will be working towards a credential in the grade level/content area in which you are assigned and for which you will need to pass the CSET.
Currently, our university partnership is with Loyola Marymount University (LMU). LMU is one of only five private universities in California to be accredited by the National Council for Teacher Education. Corps members typically spend five to six hours per week in classes. Elementary and secondary corps members work toward their credential and Master’s Degree in Urban Education. Special education corps members enrolled at LMU work toward a Mild/Moderate Disabilities credential and Master of Arts in Special Education. Early childhood corps members work toward an Early Childhood Education Permit and Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Our primary university partner is LMU due to the fact that they are affordable, have a credential only option, numerous masters program options, specialty options for ECE and SpEd placements, a history of success educating corps members and a strong alignment with our organizational mission.
LMU is not the only credentialing option; however, it is the only university with which we officially partner; therefore, should you choose to enroll in an alternate program you are responsible for facilitating your own enrollment process and for ensuring that you are accepted into a qualified University Intern Credentialing Program. Choosing a credentialing program is an important decision, so we are committed to presenting you with effective options. Since program quality, time, and money are important variables, it is essential that each person make a decision on the front end that best meets his or her needs.
| Total Cost | Two-year Program | Required | Optional | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple & Single Subject Credential Only |
$5,482 | X |
||
| Multiple & Single Subject Credential and Master's Program |
$9,864 | X |
X |
|
| Special Education Master's Program |
$10,465 | X |
X |
| Early Childhood Education Permit Only |
$2,296 | X |
| Early Childhood Education Master's Program |
$5,415 | X |
X |
For the 2008-2009 LMU program participants, the cost of these programs ranged from $3,000-8,000 per year, depending on whether corps members choose to participate in a simultaneous master’s program. Factored into these reduced costs includes Americorps awards, which total $4,725 per year. Currently, most corps members are able to pay a large portion of their tuition with their AmeriCorps awards. LMU defers tuition payments until corps members complete their first year of teaching. Please note all costs are subject to change.
Corps members can also enroll in other alternative certification programs at local universities, which can cost from $5,000 to $9,500. Most of these programs defer tuition payments for the first year. Applicants assigned to Los Angeles will receive more information about certification options once they are accepted.
| Costs to Begin Teaching |
|---|
| Testing: $320-450 |
| Processing: $300 |
| Up-front Certification Program Cost: $300-500 |
| Costs to Maintain Emergency Credential |
|---|
|
$3,000-9,000 per year (depending on program) |
In order to meet state and federal legislation, all Los Angeles corps members must take and pass the following three exams: the CSET (a subject matter competency), the CBEST (a basic skills exam), and a U.S. Constitution Exam.
Because of the importance of passing these tests and because of their relative difficultly compared to other states’ tests, we highly encourage incoming Los Angeles corps members to register for the CSET early. Given this information, incoming corps members should register to take the CSET on the following dates:
First Deadline:
Register for the January 10, 2009 CSET
Second Deadline:
Register for the March 14, 2009 CSET
Third Deadline:
Register for the March 14, 2009 CSET
Fourth Deadline:
Register for the May 16, 2009 CSET
For more details about when these exams are offered, the cost of registering and registration, refer to the CSET and CBEST websites. All incoming Los Angeles corps members will receive more information about testing upon acceptance to Teach For America. Please note that all corps members must pass both the CSET and the CBEST prior to the start of summer induction. The U.S. Constitution Exam is administered during summer induction.
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