Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$37,000–$47,000
$37,000–$47,000
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$1,000–$1,800
$1,000–$1,800
Housing Costs (shared)
$500–$1,000
$500–$1,000
Health Insurance
$182- $417
$182- $417
Utilities
$150
$150
Daycare
N/A
N/A
Monthly Transit Pass
$60
$60
Car Required
Highly encouraged
Highly encouraged
Car Insurance
Average auto insurance in MA is $1,051.60 per year
Average auto insurance in MA is $1,051.60 per year
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$260
$260
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Those who qualify for transitional grants and loans can use this funding to help pay start up costs. Mostly, start-up costs (for testing, licensure application, moving costs, etc.) will have to be paid out of pocket.
Those who qualify for transitional grants and loans can use this funding to help pay start up costs. Mostly, start-up costs (for testing, licensure application, moving costs, etc.) will have to be paid out of pocket.
Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment
Ongoing Certification Costs
$6,000–$8,000
$6,000–$8,000
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
Yes
Yes
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
Two years – through university passing Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTELs)
Two years – through university passing Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTELs)
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
Boston University
Boston University
Teacher Certification Information
To be certified, corps members must achieve passing scores on the Massachusetts Tests for Education Licensure (MTELs). They will need to take both the communication & literacy exam and their subject-specific exam. After passing the MTELs, they must apply for and receive a preliminary teaching license for an additional fee. Throughout their time in the corps, corps members are required to take further licensure classes at Boston University. These classes ensure that they will get an initial license at the end of their two years. Over 75% of our corps members opt to take additional courses at Boston University in order to receive a master’s in education. You can learn more here:http://www.bu.edu/sedtfa/
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.