Twin Cities
Overview
While Twin Cities schools produce some of the highest SAT and ACT scores in the nation, it has one of the largest achievement gaps between African-American and white students in the country.
On standardized tests, African-American students at all grade levels score about 50 percentage points lower than their white peers in both reading and math. Only 50 percent of students eligible for free or reduced priced meals passed the ninth grade writing test – compared to almost 90 percent of their higher income peers. The region is in need of quality teachers and education reformers who will help change the life prospects of the region’s students.
Life
Branded as the “city of lakes,” there are close to 20 lakes within the city limits of Minneapolis. In addition to an abundance of bike trails and walking paths, 95 percent of the residents of Minneapolis live within six blocks of a park. Minneapolis is home to three world class art museums, the acclaimed Guthrie Theater, and clubs that cater to just about every musical taste. Nearly all the bars and coffee shops in Minneapolis offer at least one night of live music each week. The pedestrian atmosphere, trendy shops, and numerous spots to gather make the Uptown neighborhood an attractive place to live and play. As one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city, the areas surrounding the University of Minnesota are home to plenty of cheap eats and entertainment. Northeast Minneapolis is a burgeoning community which features less expensive housing, the Mississippi River, and easy access to downtown Minneapolis
Corps Culture
Twin Cities corps members have an opportunity to make an immediate and long-term impact on the educational landscape of Minneapolis and St. Paul. New corps members will play an integral role in the direction and shape of this young Teach For America region. Corps members will help to build and strengthen the local Teach For America community through group cultural events and social gatherings with fellow corps members and friends. As in all of our regions, Twin Cities corps members can expect to attend monthly all-corps meetings and take advantage of opportunities to share best practices with their colleagues. The region is already home to a large number of Teach For America alumni who are eager to support and collaborate with the new corps members as colleagues and co-leaders in the fight to end educational inequity.
Teaching
Teach for America places corps members in Minneapolis Public Schools, Brooklyn Center Public Schools and various charter schools in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Corps members in the Twin Cities will have the opportunity to make an impact across a diverse group of students, serving African-American, Latino, Hmong, and East African populations in both traditional public schools and area charter schools. Corps members in our largest partner district, Minneapolis Public Schools, are playing an integral role in the district’s strategic plan to ensure that all students are “college ready.”
View a map of our placement areas.
Certification and Testing
In order to begin teaching in Minnesota, corps members must pass a subject-specific exam called The PRAXIS II Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers. Specific tests vary according to position.
All Twin Cities corps members will become certified teachers within two years through a partnership with Hamline University. Corps members also have the opportunity to earn a master’s degree. Corps members will take a class one night per week in addition to some weekend classes.
Both the certification and master’s program take two years to complete. The cost for elementary or secondary certification is approximately $12,000, and the cost for ESL certification is $18,000. For both programs, corps members can apply for financial aid, and will be able to apply their AmeriCorps education awards*, which amount to $4,725 per year, toward tuition or loans after their first year of teaching.
Corps members who pursue a master’s degree will complete one additional course at the end of their first year of teaching and two additional courses during their second year of teaching. The current additional cost for a master’s degree for either certification is about $5,000.
Living and Education Expenses
Salary and Taxes
| Salary |
$31,000 - $37,000 |
| Taxes |
20.7% - 21.75% |
Cost of Living
| Housing Single |
$500 - $800 |
| Housing Shared |
$400 - $650 |
| Health Insurance |
$40 |
| Utilities |
$60 |
| Daycare |
N/A / month |
| Monthly Tranist Pass |
$59 |
| Car Insurance |
$100 |
| Car Required |
Access to car is essential |
Start-up Costs
| Testing Costs |
$300 |
| Up-front Certification Costs |
$445 |
| How do you pay start-up costs? |
FAFSA Loans |
Ongoing Costs through the Two-year Commitment
| Ongoing Certification Costs |
$12,000 - $18,000 |
| Use AmeriCorps award for testing/certification costs? |
Yes |
| How is teaching certification structured in this state/region? |
2 year - Through university |
| Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years? |
Yes |
| Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment? |
No |
| Extra Master's Degree Costs |
$5,000 |
| Partner Universities |
Hamline University |
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.
