Teaching

Teach For America • Bay Area, with its seven partner districts and several charter partners, is responsible for the education of more than 200,000 students in 419 schools. Each district and charter faces deep disparities in student achievement which drives the work corps members engage in. On average, 35 percent of the students in the districts we serve are learning English as a Second Language, and 64 percent come from families that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

One of the most exciting things about the Bay Area is not only its incredible diversity, but also the opportunities it provides to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible in education. In the South Bay, San Jose Unified recently partnered with Chevron and Bank of America to establish the largest solar power and energy-efficient facilities program in K-12 education in the United States. This year, San Francisco Unified will pioneer the nation’s first family diversity curriculum to build awareness among its students on issues related to LGBT families and households.

Certification and Testing

Bay Area corps members are required by state and federal legislation to enroll in a California teaching credential program at the start of their two-year commitment. Currently, Teach For America • Bay Area partners with Alliant International University, California State University – East Bay, REACH, and Oakland Practitioner Teacher Program (for Special Education Teachers).

Master’s programs are offered to all K-12 teachers through our credentialing partners. The cost of the Master’s program varies significantly by credential partner. The time commitment is typically one and a half to two times that of an early completion option program.

In order to enroll in these mandated programs, corps members must first pass three tests: the CSET (a subject matter competency), the CBEST (a basic skills requirement), and a U.S. Constitution test. Corps members who choose to enroll in the Early Completion Option are also required to take the Teaching Foundations Exam, an entrance exam designed to provide evidence of foundational teaching knowledge. Applicants assigned to the Bay Area will receive more information about certification, university programs, and testing upon acceptance to Teach For America.

Some of the credentialing programs allow teachers to defer payment until they receive their AmeriCorps education awards. In addition, corps members are eligible for a number of grants offered by the State of California and other private organizations.