Living & Expenses 2011

Salary

Salary
$30,512–$45,184

Cost of Living

Housing Costs (single)
$500–$850
Housing Costs (shared)
$300–$600
Health Insurance
$75–$150
Utilities
$75–$150 depending on the season
Daycare
$400–$700 / month
Monthly Transit Pass
N/A
Car Required
Yes
Car Insurance
$155

Start-Up
Costs

Testing Costs
$160–$200
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Out of Pocket

Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment

Ongoing Certification Costs
$2,300–$5,000
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
No
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
We partner with a local program of The New Teacher Project to help corps members meet requirements.
Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of the two years?
Yes, but not required. CMs can take any graduate course at LSU (excluding medicine, law, dentistry) free during two-year commitment.
Is a master's degree required?
No
Partner Universities
Louisiana State University

Teacher Certification Information

In Louisiana, corps members must take and pass the Praxis Series assessments before teaching and enroll in a certification program during their two-year commitments. All 2011 South Louisiana corps members will be required to work toward certification through the 18-month Practitioner Teacher Program, unless certified prior to joining the corps. In order to complete the Practitioner Teacher Program successfully, candidates are required to do the following:

  • complete the Teach For America summer institute and related assignments
  • pass required exams called The Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers
  • attend and participate in 15 three-hour content seminars, post-observation discussions, mentor meetings, and professional development opportunities
  • complete a teacher portfolio at the end of the first year of teaching

The Louisiana State University Graduate School has reaffirmed its commitment to offer tuition exemption scholarships to Teach For America corps members teaching in Louisiana. The exemption lasts two years and covers all tuition expenses for full-time and part-time graduate programs, with the exception of medical and law studies. 

 

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 thanks our National Partners for their generous support.

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.