After you apply you will be notified if you have been accepted and will have the opportunity to sign up for a tutoring placement. A few weeks before the start of the Fellowship, you will be able to review an online sign up tool that gives an overview of available days, times, grades, subjects, and school communities. You are then able to sign up for a tutoring placement that best fits your schedule.

Fellows will work with between 2 and 3 students at a time, depending on the needs of the school.

The fall Fellowship runs from Sept. 8 - Dec. 12, 2025.

The spring Fellowship runs from Jan. 20 - May 1, 2026.

The first two weeks of these Fellowship dates are dedicated to fellow training, including online orientation meetings and self-paced virtual modules. Ignite fellows begin working with students in the third week of the Fellowship.

The commitment with students is entirely virtual and during K-12 school hours. Given our program is hyper-local, school schedules vary based on need and time zone.

Typically, fellows can expect to work virtually with students directly for about 2 hours a week, and complete any collaboration, prep, or independent work for about 2 hours a week. 

Both days and times with students are pre-set and cannot be adjusted. However, you will have the opportunity to choose the student learning group that works best for your schedule.

Some example schedules:

Ignite fellows are not employees of TFA but do receive a financial award for their service, ranging from $800 - $1,200 in the fall and $1,000 - $1,400 in the spring. Award amount is based on the tutoring start date you choose, your attendance, and renewing for a second semester. Fellows will receive your financial award via direct deposit as a lump sum, pre-tax after completing your Fellowship commitment (Dec/Jan for fall fellows, May for spring fellows).

Teach For America Ignite and the TFA corps are two distinct opportunities that support students and grow future leaders under the Teach For America brand and with a shared mission of expanding opportunity for all students.

Yes! As a previous fellow, you are able to renew your commitment via a shortened application. You will be able to identify yourself as having previously completed 1 or more semesters in the eligibility questions on the general application and the system will transfer you to the shortened application where you will update your contact information and respond to one short answer question.

There is a shortened application for admitted corps members and TFA alumni. You will be able to identify yourself in the eligibility questions on the general application and the system will transfer you to the shortened application with approximately 1 short answer question.

Eligibility questions, information about work experiences and other leadership roles or community involvements (in lieu of a resume), demographic information, 4 short answer questions (300 words or less), disclosure of misdemeanor or felony charges and/or convictions in the last 7 years, and recorded video reflections of 2 hypothetical scenarios with a student and with an Ignite Site Leader.

• Desire to work alongside K-12 students to positively impact their learning, growth and sense of belonging.
• Interest in and knowledge of Teach For America’s mission working to create educational excellence for all children.
• Ability to build relationships across lines of difference.
• Evidence of fulfilling commitments with a strong orientation to learning and self reflection.
• Ability to organize schedule to participate in training, onboarding, and Fellowship readiness prior to the start of tutoring with students.