Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$30,000–$36,000
$30,000–$36,000
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$700
$700
Housing Costs (shared)
$600
$600
Health Insurance
$0
$0
Utilities
$150
$150
Daycare
$600
$600
Monthly Transit Pass
$68
$68
Car Required
Yes
Yes
Car Insurance
$150
$150
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$115–$190
$115–$190
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Out of pocket
Out of pocket
Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment
Ongoing Certification Costs
$7,000–$8,000
$7,000–$8,000
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
Yes
Yes
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
Two year – through university
Two year – through university
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
Buena Vista University and University of Missouri – St. Louis
Buena Vista University and University of Missouri – St. Louis
Teacher Certification Information
In the state of Missouri, all corps members have to be Highly Qualified under No Child Left Behind to teach. In St. Louis, this means that corps members must obtain a provisional certificate, which is valid throughout their two-year teaching commitment. Provisional certificates are nonrenewable and will ultimately lead to full initial certification. To obtain a provisional certificate, all corps members are required to complete nine credit hours of certification coursework through Buena Vista University during their first semester of teaching and complete an academic contract. In addition to completing the coursework at Buena Vista, all corps members are required to take and pass the Praxis II in their assigned content area.
Starting in the first semester of teaching, corps members are required to enroll in certification courses with the University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL) to obtain their initial certification which will be completed upon finishing their two-year commitment. In addition to obtaining an initial certification, each corps member has the opportunity to gain a master’s in education within their two-year commitment as well.
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.