Mississippi Delta Expenses and Certification

Living & Expenses 2011

Salary

Salary
$28,000–$36,000

Cost of Living

Housing Costs (single)
$250–$450

Housing Costs (shared)
$150–$400

Health Insurance
$30–$50

Utilities
$100–$150 / month

Daycare
$360 / month

Monthly Transit Pass
N/A

Car Required
Access to a car is essential.

Car Insurance
$100–$150 / month

Start-Up
Costs

Testing Costs
$260–$490

Up Front Certification Costs

How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Out-of-pocket, some transitional grants and loans

Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment

Ongoing Certification Costs
$0–$1,830

Use Americorps award for testing/certification
No

How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
Through Teach For America.

Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of the two years?
Yes

Is a master's degree required?
No

Partner Universities
N/A

Teacher Certification Information

All corps members have the opportunity to become fully certified with Standard five-year licensure in at least one subject during their two years, and initial licensure is dependent upon passing a series of tests that must be taken before the summer training institute. All Delta corps members are required to take and pass the Praxis I series in reading, writing, and mathematics, as well as one or more subject-specific Praxis II exams.

Both states also require corps members to participate in all of Teach For America • Delta’s professional development activities, as well as enroll in the nine graduate credit hours earned during the Teach For America summer training Institute.

Notes and Clarifications

Beginning teacher salary: Estimated salary varies greatly depending on placement. Corps members teaching in Jackson, Mississippi's capital, earn higher salaries than those teaching in more rural areas, however cost of living is also lower in rural areas.
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.
AmeriCorps award for certification: Can you use your AmeriCorps award to pay testing/certification costs?
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.