Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$33,764–$45,000
$33,764–$45,000
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$850–$1,200
$850–$1,200
Housing Costs (shared)
$500–$1,000
$500–$1,000
Health Insurance
$40–$70
$40–$70
Utilities
$100–$300
$100–$300
Daycare
$600
$600
Monthly Transit Pass
$86
$86
Car Required
Yes
Yes
Car Insurance
$100
$100
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$150–$400
$150–$400
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Transitional grants and loans, out of pocket
Transitional grants and loans, out of pocket
Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment
Ongoing Certification Costs
$9,000–$14,000
$9,000–$14,000
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
Yes
Yes
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
One year – through university
One year – through university
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
Dominican University, National-Louis University, and University of Phoenix
Dominican University, National-Louis University, and University of Phoenix
Teacher Certification Information
While the requirements to become an Illinois or Indiana teacher are rigorous, the majority of Chicago corps members end their two-year commitment as fully certified teachers. Corps members must pass the appropriate basic skills and content tests for the state in which they’re teaching, and special education and bilingual teachers take additional tests. Corps members must also enroll in an alternative certification program with one of our partner universities - Dominican University, National Louis University, or University of Phoenix - in order to be qualified to teach.
In Chicago and in Northwest Indiana, most corps members receive the state’s Provisional Certificate after their first year and the Initial Certificate after their second year, provided they have fulfilled all coursework, processing, and testing requirements.
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.
- 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. These vary based on subject area, number of classes taken per semester, and the availability of online courses.
- 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.