Teaching

Newark, and nearby Passaic, face many of the same economic and social challenges as other major urban areas in America.

• One in four families lives in poverty
• 46 percent of adults have a high school diploma
• One in ten Newark residents possesses a bachelor's degree or higher

Student test scores continue to lag behind those of higher-income areas. In math, only 35 percent of eighth graders and 40 percent of high school students passed state standardized assessments in 2007. While the overall trend of rising test scores in Newark is promising, student achievement levels continue to fall below the state average.

Newark is making progress, however, in its efforts to improve its schools as both district and charter schools work in collaboration to improve the quality of education in this city. The recent surge of charter schools in the city – many of which are founded and run by Teach For America alumni – has done much to raise the bar of educational excellence in this community. Corps members have had a profound impact on Newark schools as they represent nearly five percent of the entire instructional staff in the Newark Public Schools, and have a documented history of raising student achievement. Alumni such as Julie Jackson (’94 Newark Corps) and Ryan Hill (’99 NYC Corps) are leading high-performing charter schools and consistently rely on corps members and alumni to maintain the highest standard of educational excellence within their schools.

View a map of our placement areas.

Certification and Testing

In order for Newark corps to begin teaching, corps members must take exams called The PRAXIS Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers. Applicants assigned to Newark will receive further information about required tests and certification once they are accepted. Corps members who do not possess a NJ Standard Teaching Certificate or have not completed a traditional teacher preparation program are required to take additional coursework throughout their first year to earn their standard certification. We have partnered with Seton Hall University to develop an Alternate Route program that is tailored to the needs of our corps members. By the end of the corps member’s first year, he or she will exit the program certified to teach in the state of New Jersey.

Corps members who teach Special Education earn their credential at the end of their second year as a result of additional coursework requirements. Upon completing the alternate certification program, corps members are permanently certified to teach anywhere in the state.

The Newark region also partners with Montclair State University to provide additional coursework opportunities for Math and Science corps members. Eligible corps members, who apply and are admitted, participate in a Master of Education in Teacher Leadership program. This is an intensive, two-year program, designed to empower teachers to lead efforts and build grassroots capacity to directly impact the quality of teaching and learning.