Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$35,000–$42,000 (For early childhood education placement, minimum salary is $30,000)
$35,000–$42,000 (For early childhood education placement, minimum salary is $30,000)
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$800–$1,500
$800–$1,500
Housing Costs (shared)
$600–$1000
$600–$1000
Health Insurance
$170
$170
Utilities
$40–$100
$40–$100
Daycare
$300–$800 / month
$300–$800 / month
Monthly Transit Pass
$55–$80
$55–$80
Car Required
No
No
Car Insurance
$160
$160
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$440–$800
$440–$800
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Varies
Varies
Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment
Ongoing Certification Costs
$3,500–$16,000
$3,500–$16,000
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
Depends on credentialing partner
Depends on credentialing partner
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
One year for most programs
One year for most programs
Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of the two years?
Yes
Yes
Is a master's degree required?
No
No
Partner Universities
Loyola Marymount University, Alliant International University, Fortune, REACH, OPTP
Loyola Marymount University, Alliant International University, Fortune, REACH, OPTP
Teacher Certification Information
The District Strategy team in the Bay Area and incoming corps members work as a team to ensure that each and every corps member is ready for the first day of school. Our corps members in the Bay Area are very fortunate to have excellent credentialing partners and a streamlined certification process. We work with several credentialing partners including Loyola Marymount University, Alliant International University, REACH Institute, Fortune, and OPTP.
All K-12 Bay Area corps members will work toward certification. The California Department of Education created an intern certification program designed specifically for individuals who enter the classroom through a nontraditional path. All K-12 Bay Area corps members will enroll in an intern program through one of our credentialing partners. Once enrolled, these corps members will receive a two-year, non-renewable intern teaching credential. During their two years, all K-12 corps members will be required to complete a credentialing program which upon completion and payment of tuition and fees will result in a five-year preliminary teaching credential.
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.
Teach For America was named one of Fortune magazine's top 100 employers to work for.
Teach For America was named one of America's top 100 Ideal Employers in Universum's 2011 American Student Survey.