Prerequisites

Bachelor's Degree

You must have received your bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university by the first day of the summer institute, which varies depending on the region to which you are assigned. You also must have received a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate. In some instances, your assigned region may specify an earlier date by which you must have obtained your bachelor's degree. Exceptions to this policy may be granted for applicants who provide documentation that they have fulfilled all graduation requirements but do not yet have a degree conferred. This may not be possible for all institute or regional district sites and applicants may direct questions about this policy to admissions@teachforamerica.org.

2.50 Minimum Cumulative GPA

You must have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale (as measured by the institution awarding your degree) at the time we receive your application, as well as at the time of graduation. The GPA requirement is mandated by the school districts and credentialing programs with which we work. Graduate school GPAs should not be used or averaged in with undergraduate GPAs. If you are accepted into Teach For America and your final GPA falls below a 2.50, you will forego your position with Teach For America. Applicants must also pass any coursework indicated on their transcript as “in progress” at the time of their interview.

US Citizenship or National/Permanent Resident Status

Due to the hiring restrictions of many of our partner school districts, Teach For America may only accept US citizens, nationals, or legal permanent residents for admission into the corps. Individuals who are in the United States under a student, work, or tourist visa are not eligible to become Teach For America corps members. Similarly, individuals who have refugee status but nothing indicating permanent resident alien status are not eligible to become Teach For America corps members. Learn about the Teach For America International Students Pilot Program.

Therefore, if you are invited to a final interview, you must provide legal documentation that proves you are a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States. Visas are not acceptable. 

If you are not from the US and are from a country that is part of the Teach For All network, you may be eligible to join one of our partner programs. Learn more about Teach For All.

Admissions policies

Please review these admissions policies before applying.

Nondiscrimination Policy

Teach For America is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its relations with its applicants, corps members, and staff members, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood.

Disability Accommodations Policy

Teach For America is committed to providing equal access and opportunities to candidates with legally recognizable disabilities, and prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the application process, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar state laws. Teach For America believes that it is possible for a qualified individual to have a disability and be a part of our movement.

We will make our best effort to provide reasonable accommodations for our differently-abled candidates at every stage of the application process. Disclosing a disability or requesting a need for accommodations is a separate and distinct process from admissions and will have absolutely no bearing on a candidate’s application status.

If you have any questions regarding our Disability Accommodations Policy, please contact our Disabilities Accommodations Officer at DAO@teachforamerica.org.

Confidentiality

In order to ensure a fair admissions process for all, Teach For America requires all applicants to treat each phase of the application process as confidential and refrain from disclosing or sharing information or materials provided by Teach For America with others that are not otherwise publicly available. Any applicant that discloses confidential information regarding the application process is subject to having his or her application disqualified. Please note that we do not endorse and are not responsible for the accuracy of information that has been developed and provided by third-party non-Teach For America sources.

Deferrals

Accepted applicants may submit a request for a one-year deferral. Members of the Selection Committee will review and evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis. Though uncommon, deferrals are typically granted for accepted applicants who have serious family emergencies or have offers to pursue one-year opportunities that cannot be deferred (e.g., Fulbright Program). Candidates granted deferrals are recommended for acceptance for the following year, but are not guaranteed the same regional and subject assignment they were offered in the year they originally applied.

Criminal Records/Proceedings

Corps members are expected to submit to any and all background checks required by their school districts, Teach For America, and other relevant agencies. Teach For America reserves the right to deny admission to or dismiss any corps member who has been involved in a criminal proceeding other than a minor traffic violation, regardless of the outcome. This includes criminal matters that were handled by a juvenile court and final determinations that are under seal or otherwise expunged from the public record. Teach For America is not responsible for finding alternative placements for corps members who cannot be hired or who are fired by their assigned school districts because of their criminal records or involvement in criminal proceedings, or who are deemed ineligible by Teach For America due to criminal history. In addition, Teach For America reserves the right to inform the school district in which the corps member is teaching or planning to teach of the corps member’s conviction records or ongoing involvement in criminal proceedings. If, through background checks conducted or commissioned by a state, district, or Teach For America, it is found that there is a charge against a corps member other than a minor traffic violation, and the corps member did not disclose it in the application, this may be treated as falsification or misrepresentation, which are grounds for dismissal from the corps.

If a background check conducted or reviewed by Teach For America yields a criminal record that would preclude an applicant or corps member from service, the applicant or corps member will be notified of the finding, and have the opportunity to review and challenge the factual accuracy of the record before action is taken to exclude the applicant or corps member from the position.  In such cases, details on the process for obtaining and challenging the results of the background check will be included in the notification of findings.

Falsification or Misrepresentation

Falsification or misrepresentation of any sort on the application or supporting materials is grounds for non-admission or dismissal.

Reporting of Material Change

It is the responsibility of applicants to report any material change in the information provided in their applications as soon as a material change occurs even if such material change occurs after admissions into the corps. Candidates are required to notify Teach For America within 14 days of the change occurring, including but not limited to criminal records/proceedings or academic status. Failure to inform Teach For America of such material change is grounds for non-admission or rescission of the admission offer or dismissal from the corps.

Additional Information

Teach For America may require additional information from applicants before determining whether to invite them to a phone and/or final interview. Teach For America reserves the right to collect information from applicants at a later date and use this information in admissions decisions.

Feedback

We are unable to provide individual feedback about admissions decisions to applicants who are not accepted at any stage of the application process given the volume of applications Teach For America receives.

Reapplication

Candidates may only apply to Teach For America once during an admissions year but are welcome to reapply during subsequent admissions years. Candidates who apply for the 2011 corps will not be eligible to reapply at a later deadline during the 2010-11 school year, but may reapply during the next admissions season, beginning Fall 2011.