Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$39,780–$48,870
$39,780–$48,870
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$700–$1000
$700–$1000
Housing Costs (shared)
$500–$900
$500–$900
Health Insurance
$50–$100
$50–$100
Utilities
$164
$164
Daycare
$323
$323
Monthly Transit Pass
Car Required
Yes
Yes
Car Insurance
$102
$102
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$120–$240
$120–$240
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
$4,199–$4,950
$4,199–$4,950
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
Varies (typically no)
Varies (typically no)
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
One year program
One year program
Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of the two years?
Yes (optional)
Yes (optional)
Is a master's degree required?
No
No
Partner Universities
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Teacher Certification Information
Our region works with alternative certification partners in order to meet the requirements to teach in Texas. All corps members must take and pass one or more Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) exams, depending on teaching assignments, along with several courses in order to obtain full certification within their first year of teaching. While the cost of alternative certification and personal preparation for tests are the responsibility of incoming corps members, support from regional staff along with study sessions and guides are available to ensure success throughout the certification process.
Corps members may pursue a master’s in Teaching and Learning, or a master’s in Education: Leadership and Policy within their second year. While the schedule and load of classes varies per corps member, each program is conducted through our partnership with Southern Methodist 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.
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.