Connecticut
Overview
Almost everyone is surprised to learn about the size of Connecticut’s achievement gap. In a state known for its tremendous wealth, the heartbreakingly low achievement of students in urban pockets of poverty is shocking. However, the conditions that make this achievement gap so embarrassing also make the prospect of eliminating it entirely feasible. The tangibility of seeing this state move from having the largest achievement gap in the nation to true educational equity, in a matter of years, not decades, fuels a growing movement of education reform and drives the work of a corps committed to being a part of that change.
Life
Life in Connecticut offers corps members both the vibrancy of a metropolitan area and the distinct pleasures of small-town New England. Residents enjoy exceptional restaurants and unique activities, with legendary pizza and apple-picking as particular specialties. In addition, with New York City and Boston easily accessible by train, even more is just steps away.
Teach For America currently places corps members in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford schools with nearly half the corps serving Hartford Public School and living in the greater Hartford area. Those in the southern half of the state teach in New Haven, Bridgeport and Stamford.
Regardless of where in the state corps members reside, all enjoy easy access to the many cultural events, sporting activities and academic resources throughout the state, as well as in Boston and New York City.
Corps Culture
Given the current opportunities and challenges in educational reform, being a part of the Connecticut education system right now is very special. The Teach For America • Connecticut corps, now in its fourth year of operation, is 160 strong, working in over 70 schools and reaching over 9,000 (out of approximately 120,000) students from low-income communities.
Connecticut corps members come together often throughout the year for professional development opportunities, including monthly regional conferences, Learning Team sessions, need-based workshops, and biweekly support dinners for first year corps members . Outside the structures of the regional program, corps members regularly plan together, share teaching strategies and serve as each other’s primary source of support. Corps members also come together regularly for social events including happy hours, BBQs, bowling leagues, holiday parties, intramural sports, community service projects, and state explorations.
Teaching
Teach For America • Connecticut places corps members in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford Public Schools with one-third of corps members teaching in Achievement First, New Beginnings Family Academy, Domus, CREC, and Jumoke Academy charter schools.
The story of education in Connecticut is a tale of two states. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, often called the nation’s report card, repeatedly names Connecticut as the state with the largest achievement gap in the nation. This gap is the result of shockingly low achievement among poor and minority students. In 2008, only 30 percent of eighth grade students achieved goal on the Connecticut Mastery Test. In Hartford Public Schools, 29 percent of ninth grade students graduate from high school. Additionally, 37 percent of graduating seniors in our districts go on to a four year university.
Combined, the districts that Connecticut corps members serve educate over 65,000 students out of approximately 120,000 students from low-income households in the state. This year, corps members will teach over 9,000 students.
View a map of our placement areas.
Certification and Testing
Teach For America • Connecticut is a state approved Alternate Route to Certification with the ability to certify teachers in Elementary K-6 and Secondary subject areas. Connecticut corps members earn their Initial Educator Certification after one year of teaching under the Resident Teacher Certificate and completion of Teach For America’s training. Accepted applicants assigned to Connecticut will receive a welcome packet with detailed information regarding these requirements once they are accepted.
There are universal coursework requirements which can be acquired by participating in our partnership with CREC. The full cost of all these sessions is $500.
All Connecticut corps members are required to either pass the PRAXIS I series in reading, writing and mathematics or secure a waiver from the state department of education. All corps members must also pass the PRAXIS II subject-specific test(s) that apply to their teaching placement. These exams must be taken before induction begins in June due to licensure timelines. Overall testing costs for 2008 corps members range from $65 - $400.
We continually engage in conversations about forming partnerships with local universities; however, at this time Teach For America • Connecticut does not have a master’s partnership option. Connecticut corps members can earn a master’s degree at a number of local universities within their two years of teaching. Currently corps members select the university program independently so cost and time commitments vary.
Living and Education Expenses
Salary and Taxes
|
Hartford |
New Haven |
Bridgeport |
Stanford |
| Salary |
$38,000 |
$39,000 |
$42,000 |
$42,000 |
| Taxes |
19.97% |
20.22% |
20.92% |
20.92% |
Salary and Taxes
| Salary |
$45,000 |
| Taxes |
0.0% |
Cost of Living
| Housing Single |
$600 - $1,000 |
| Housing Shared |
$450 - $700 |
| Health Insurance |
$36 - $56 |
| Utilities |
$60 - $150 |
| Daycare |
$400 / month |
| Monthly Tranist Pass |
$45 - $100 |
| Car Insurance |
$100 |
| Car Required |
Access to car is essential |
Start-up Costs
| Testing Costs |
$65 - $400 |
| Up-front Certification Costs |
$800 |
| How do you pay start-up costs? |
TGL, out-of-pocket |
Ongoing Costs through the Two-year Commitment
| Ongoing Certification Costs |
$800 - $1,200 |
| Use AmeriCorps award for testing/certification costs? |
No |
| How is teaching certification structured in this state/region? |
Through Teach For America |
| Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years? |
No |
| Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment? |
No |
| Extra Master's Degree Costs |
$0 |
| Partner Universities |
|
Notes and Clarifications
- Beginning teacher salary: If you have a master's degree in education, are placed in a bilingual classroom, or in a math/science classroom you may receive additional compensation.
- Avg. health insurance: In some placement districts, health insurance premiums are pre-tax deductions.
- Total tax rate: Federal + state + city. Only applies to starting salaries.
- Up-front certification: Expenses that must be paid before your first day of teaching.
- Paying start-up costs: Can you pay for testing and up-front certification costs with transitional grants and loans or do you have to pay out-of-pocket?
- Ongoing certification: Total certification costs over two-year teaching commitment.
- AmeriCorps award for certification: Can you use your AmeriCorps award to pay testing/certification costs?
- Master's in two years: Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years?
- Master's required: Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment?
- Extra master's degree costs: Additional total cost to obtain a master's degree (on top of ongoing certification costs); does not include AmeriCorps award.
- Partner university(ies): These universities partner with Teach For America for ongoing certification requirements, and in some cases, the fulfillment of a master's degree in education.
