Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$38,000–$46,500
$38,000–$46,500
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$600–$1,000
$600–$1,000
Housing Costs (shared)
$400–$800
$400–$800
Health Insurance
$60
$60
Utilities
$103
$103
Daycare
$423
$423
Monthly Transit Pass
N/A
N/A
Car Required
Yes
Yes
Car Insurance
$98
$98
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$240–$360
$240–$360
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
$3,525–$5,350
$3,525–$5,350
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
No
No
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
One year - through training partner
One year - through training partner
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
St. Thomas University
St. Thomas University
Teacher Certification Information
The Houston Independent School District (HISD), which serves over 200,000, is the largest public school system in Texas. While HISD has made significant progress, the achievement gap still exists in Houston's low-income communities. HISD has the highest dropout rate in the state of Texas, with students from low-income homes comprising over seventy percent of high school dropouts. Approximately one-fifth of the 2011 corps will work in two public charter school networks for youth from low-income homes: KIPP and YES Prep Public schools, both founded by Teach For America – Houston alumni.
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.