Frequently Asked Questions

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• What are the benefits of entering the DC Teaching Fellows program?

  The benefits of being a DC Teaching Fellow include:

  • Intensive Pre-Service Training: Our training includes a field experience component, during which Fellows receive hands-on training and coaching on our Fast Start skills.
  • Streamlined certification program: After completing our intensive Pre-Service Training, you will enroll in TNTP Academy and attend bi-weekly evening seminars throughout your first year in the classroom. These seminars are led by outstanding district teachers with a track record of raising student achievement. TNTP Academy is specifically designed to prepare new teachers without a formal education background for the rigors of high-need classrooms. Further, this licensure program is anywhere from $20,000 - $40,000 less expensive than related certification programs in the D.C. area. In addition, you will earn full salary and benefits as a DCPS teacher while earning your license.
  • Assistance in securing a teaching position: Though it is ultimately the responsibility of the Fellow to secure a teaching position with DC Public Schools, our staff is here to provide you with information, resources, and strategies to successfully navigate this process.
  • Support network: Our program offers the opportunity for Fellows to forge connections with peers, faculty, staff, and district personnel. This support network is cited by our Fellows as one of the most helpful resources for them as new teachers.

• What are the benefits of applying early?

  DCTF staff review applications, send out interview invitations, and make offers to candidates on a rolling basis. We encourage interested applicants to apply early, as these applicants will know their status earlier than those that apply at the final deadline.

• What if I missed the DCTF Information Session?

  You're in luck! We recorded the complete Information Session for all candidates to view. Please visit this link to view the video.

• Does DCTF provide a processing fee waiver?

  The DC Teaching Fellows program requires a significant investment of time and resources towards Fellows' long-term career in education. The cost of the program is shared between Fellows, DC Teaching Fellows, and DCPS. Due to the high number of applications DC Teaching Fellows receives, there is a $25.00 non-refundable processing fee for all individuals applying to the DC Teaching Fellows program. 

  DC Teaching Fellows does not offer processing fee waivers; however, candidates who ultimately enroll in the program will have their processing fee applied towards the $150 cost for summer and school year training materials.

• What previous undergraduate coursework do I need?

  Your previous coursework should enable you to pass the Praxis I and II exams for basic educational skills.

• What are the required tests?

  Before being accepted into the program, Fellows must take and PASS Praxis I and II. Please visit our Testing Requirements page to learn more about required testing.

• Do I need to pass the required tests before I apply?

  We will accept applications from prospective Fellows who have not yet completed all required tests; however, all passing Praxis I and II scores must be submitted to DCTF by June 1st, 2012 for candidates accepted into our Summer 2012 cohort. In addition, candidates invited to an interview event must register for their Praxis II exam prior to the day of the interview event, and must bring the proof of registration for their Praxis II exam to the interview event.

• Where should I have my Praxis scores sent?

  When registering for Praxis exams on ETS' website, you should have all score reports sent directly to you, as you will be required to upload them to an online "Checklist" if you are given an offer with the program. You may be asked to provide additional copies of the score reports to DCTF or TNTP Academy as well. We recommend that all candidates keep a copy for their own personal records as well.

• What if I live out of state?

  We certainly welcome all applications. If you currently live out of state, and you are invited to an Interview Event, please be aware that you will need to make travel arrangements to the D.C. area as soon as you receive interview notification. Additional travel to take required tests may also be necessary. Upon acceptance into the Fellows program, we recommend moving to the D.C. area a month prior to the start of Pre-Service Training. DCTF does not provide financial assistance for relocation, but candidates are encouraged to get in touch with the DCTF office for tips and resources regarding relocating to the D.C. area.

• Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply?

  No. However, you must be FULLY eligible to work in the United States and have a permanent work visa. Neither DC Teaching Fellows nor the District of Columbia Public Schools will provide sponsorship for employment.

• What do I do if my transcripts are from out of the country?

  If you attended a university outside of the United States, you will need to have your transcripts evaluated by a licensed, U.S. based agency BEFORE you apply.

  Two reliable, licensed agencies are:

  • American Education Research Corporation
  • International Education Research Foundation, Inc.

• Why can't I log back onto the online application?

  Please make sure you are entering the same email address used to create your account. If you have forgotten which email account you originally used or cannot remember your password, DO NOT create a new account. Please click the "Forgot your password?" button on the homepage of our TeacherTrack site.

• What should I do if I get an error on the online application?

  If the system is unresponsive or you receive an error page when you attempt to submit information, please try the following:

  • Make sure you are using Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox as your Internet browser. TeacherTrack does not have full functionality on other browsers.
  • Log off the system, reopen the Internet browser, and try to re-submit your application.
  • Complete the beginning of your application with only the required fields, press "Submit," and then re-enter the system to add more information. The system can be time sensitive; therefore, it may be helpful to complete each step within 15 minutes throughout the entire submission process.
  • We have also found that applicants with older computers sometimes have difficulty using the online system. If you are using an older computer system, it may be easier to submit your online application from a different computer.
  • If you continue to experience difficulties, please send a message to DCTF Information for technical support and verification of receipt of documents.

• Can I apply by mail?

  We only accept applications online via TeacherTrack.

• What does "alternative route licensure" mean?

  As an alternate route licensure program, the DC Teaching Fellows and TNTP Academy accelerate the process of bringing new teachers to the classrooms that need them most. Rather than completing a traditional university-based teacher education program prior to entering the classroom, Fellows engage in intensive pre-service training and then participate in TNTP Academy, an Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)-approved licensure program, while they teach.

• How will I earn my teaching license?

  Fellows who meet all the requirements of Pre-Service Training will enroll in TNTP Academy. Throughout their first full school year of teaching, Fellows attend TNTP Academy’s Teaching for Results (TfR) seminars, a series of professional development sessions designed to develop the knowledge and ability to teach subject matter while extending the emphasis on student achievement. Fellows are eligible to be recommended by TNTP Academy for a Regular II License after:

  • Demonstrating an impact on student achievement
  • Receiving a positive evaluation from their school leader
  • Successfully completing the Teaching for Results seminar aligned with their licensure subject area
  • Receiving passing scores on the required state tests for their licensure subject area
  • Paying TNTP Academy tuition

• Will I receive a master's degree?

  No. TNTP Academy leads to a District of Columbia Regular II teaching license. All DC Teaching Fellows are required to pursue licensure with TNTP Academy. For Fellows interested in pursuing a master’s degree after earning a license, TNTP Academy has a partnership with American University through which Fellows are able to enroll in an expedited master’s program at a discounted rate.

• What is the cost of TNTP Academy?

  For the 2012-2013 school year, the cost of TNTP Academy was approximately $4,200. The cost of TNTP Academy is estimated to be roughly the same for the 2013-2014 school year. DC Teaching Fellows strives to make our licensure program affordable to all candidates, and our program is anywhere from $20,000 - $40,000 less expensive than related certification programs in the D.C. area.

• Where will I teach?

  Our mission to raise student achievement in high-need schools means that Fellows will teach where they are needed most. Fellows will teach grades K-12 in both year-round and traditional year schools depending on their subject area. Specific school, grade level, and subject determinations will be based on the qualifications of each Fellow and the needs of the District, taking into account Fellow preferences whenever possible. We strive to balance our mission of staffing high-need schools with the understanding that it is vital to provide both Fellows and schools with choices in the hiring process. Site selections are made through a combination of job fairs and one-on-one interviews where district personnel, school-based staff, and Fellows determine if there is a good fit.

• Do I get to choose where I teach?

  While it is our goal to accommodate your teaching preferences, all DC Teaching Fellow candidates should be prepared to teach wherever they are needed most. As a Fellow, your school site is ultimately based on available teaching positions within the district.

• When do I find out where I will be teaching?

  For most Fellows, district hiring will occur during Pre-Service Training. However, please be aware that delays are possible; final district hiring may extend through the end of training, or, more rarely, into the first weeks of teaching. In addition, Fellows must successfully complete Pre-Service Training and master the Fast Start skills in order to start teaching in the fall.

• Will I interview with a principal?

  After acceptance into the DCTF program, Fellows will interview with principals or other school administrators in order to find the best match for the school and the Fellow.

• Will I be teaching with other Fellows?

  We will work to ensure that Fellows are clustered in the same schools or neighboring schools.

• Can I change my teaching placement after I have started teaching?

  For the duration of your commitment to the Fellowship, you are expected to teach in a high-need school and may only change assignments after a release from the school and district. Transferring is an extremely difficult process and it is likely that a transfer will not be honored. DCTF does not handle any part of the transferring process.