Changing Lives, One Teacher at a Time

To be considered for our program, applicants must:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree (conferred by June 1, 2025) from an accredited institution
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.2, or undergraduate and graduate average GPA
• Meet all legal requirements to work in the United States.
• Not have ever completed any other alternative certification program.
• Not currently possess, have ever held, or be eligible for a non-renewable or professional teaching license from any state. Not ever held a Maryland-issued Resident Teacher certificate. Prior education coursework or an education degree are welcome to apply as long as they are not already eligible for licensure in any state.
• Provisional and emergency licenses are acceptable if held in states other than Maryland. Substitute and international licenses are acceptable.
• Meet all Maryland state testing requirements by testing deadlines. See below.

Tuition and Fees

As a Baltimore City Teaching Resident, you are responsible for coursework tuition and fees, which total approximately $7,000 during the 2024-25 school year. Special Educators are responsible for an additional $1,000 to cover their second year of coursework. Payment plans are available and Special Educators can spread payments for the additional $1,000 across both years.  Additionally, Baltimore City Public Schools System offers partial tuition reimbursement for BCTR Residents in good standing. The 2023-24 BCPSS reimbursement was:

• $3750 (total) for those with a bachelor’s degree. Two disbursements from BCPSS over the first year.
• $2500 (total) for those with a masters degree. Two disbursements from BCPSS over the first year.

Residents are not responsible for tuition until they begin teaching during the 2024-2025 school year.

Certification and District Hiring Costs

Residents are responsible for all costs associated with certification through the Maryland State Department of Education, including fees for any required exams. In addition, Baltimore City Public Schools requires all teachers to take a TB test, drug test, and fingerprint processing for a background check. Residents are responsible for any costs associated with state or district hiring requirements.

Please refer to our detailed expense summary below for a comprehensive overview of costs associated with pre-service training, certification coursework, licensure, and district hiring.

Note: All of the costs below are based on the current school year and are subject to annual increases.

There are many external resources that can help you manage the financial transition. We have listed a few below. (Note that, aside from AmeriCorps and the BEEC, TNTP Teaching Fellows does not specifically endorse any of these options. They are presented as suggestions for further research.)

Black Educator Excellence Cohort (BEEC)

Through a partnership with a national foundation, the Black Educator Excellence Cohort (BEEC) supports new Black BCTR Residents in transitioning to the classroom. The BEEC provides resources and support, including a summer stipend to help offset living expenses, a partial tuition scholarship, an exam fee stipend, and exam preparation support. Members are eligible to receive up to $6300 in support.

TNTP AmeriCorps

As a BCTR Resident, you may be eligible to enroll in the TNTP AmeriCorps Program. AmeriCorps is a national network of service programs that connects more than 100,000 Americans each year to serve our country’s most critical needs in areas including environmental issues, disaster relief, and education.

Upon successfully completing your first year of teaching in a high-need school, Fellows enrolled in the TNTP AmeriCorps Program are eligible for several financial benefits:

• An education award of up to $7,395. AmeriCorps awards cannot be applied towards TNTP Academy tuition and fees, but they can be used for repayment of federal student loans and/or for future educational costs at schools that accept federal financial aid.
• Postponement of federal student loans repayment. As an AmeriCorps member, you may be eligible to pause repayment of outstanding federal student loans. That means you would not have to make any federal student loan payments during your year of service, and after successfully completing the year, AmeriCorps would repay any interest accrued during that time.

In addition to these financial benefits, AmeriCorps members receive special training that prepares them to incorporate service learning and volunteerism into their teaching, including opportunities to participate in special activities such as AmeriCorps Week and the Martin Luther King Day of Service in their local communities.

Participation in AmeriCorps is dependent on federal funding and the award size is subject to change annually. As a result, candidates will be notified as soon as eligibility is determined, most likely at pre-service training.

Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program (TLFP)

To qualify for loan forgiveness for a federal loan, you must work for five consecutive years in a qualifying Title I school. You also must meet the standard to be considered “highly qualified” for all five years of service (through degree and required teacher tests). You must not have an outstanding balance on direct loans or FFEL loans as of October 1, 1998, or you must have obtained those loans after October 1, 1998. You cannot be in default on a subsidized or unsubsidized loan unless you have made “satisfactory repayments.” The loan for which you are seeking forgiveness must have been made within the five years of teaching. All secondary math, secondary science, and special education teachers are eligible for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness. All other teachers are eligible for up to $5,000.

Qualifying Loans: Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans

• Read more about the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program on the Trellis Company website.
• Apply for Teacher Loan Forgiveness through the Federal Student Aid website.

Loan Consolidation

A Direct Consolidation Loan allows you to consolidate (or combine) multiple federal education loans into one loan. The result is a single monthly payment instead of multiple payments. A Direct Consolidation Loan for federal loans has a fixed interest rate based on the weighted average of the loans being consolidated.

In order to qualify, you must have at least one Direct Loan or FFEL Program loan that is in a grace period or in repayment. If you want to consolidate a defaulted loan, you must either make satisfactory repayment arrangements on the loan with your current loan servicer before you consolidate, or you must agree to repay your new Direct Consolidation Loan under the Income-Based Repayment Plan, Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan, or Income-Contingent Repayment Plan.

Repayment plans can range from 10 to 30 years, based on the amount being consolidated, other education debt and the selected repayment plan. Repayment can begin in 60 days or sooner.

Eligible Loan Types:

• Direct Subsidized Loans
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans
• Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
• Direct PLUS Loans
• PLUS loans from the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program
• Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS)
• Federal Perkins Loans
• Federal Nursing Loans
• Health Education Assistance Loans

To learn more about loan consolidation and to apply, visit the Direct Consolidations Loan website or the Student Loans website.

Short-Term Healthcare

You may require short-term health care as you transition out of school or your current job. When choosing your short-term health care, be sure to inquire if your plan meets Minimum Essential Coverage requirements. If not, you may be required to pay a tax penalty.

Affordable Health Care
Though this is not considered short-term health care, you may enroll in a plan now and update or cancel the care once you are hired as a full-time teacher. Contact a healthcare.gov representative (1-800-318-2596) and report this “life event.” Coverage varies by state, and a variety of plans are available. While open enrollment is closed for 2014, visit www.healthcare.gov to see if you qualify for “Special Enrollment.”

eHealth
A variety of plans are available. You can arrange to pay on a monthly basis, and select a six-month or 11-month plan. You may also select to pay up front for a 30-day or one-month plan. Prices range from $35 to more than $100 per month, depending on the individual. Coverage begins the very next day when enrolling in this plan.

Sallie Mae

This plan offers coverage with a maximum of six to 11 months. It offers a $50 co-pay for urgent care with multiple plan options.

COBRA
If you are leaving a job that provided health insurance, you may want to enroll in COBRA. This would allow the previous health insurance to remain in effect for up to 18 months after employment is terminated. COBRA is typically a more expensive option, usually costing several hundred per month.

Temporarily Add-on to a Family Member’s Plan

Another option could always be to add on to the insurance of a family member or significant other. If you are 26 or under, you are eligible to be covered under a parent’s insurance plan. Rules regarding family and significant others vary by insurance policy.

Personal Loans

There are many options for personal loans. These are loans from banks or another source that have a fixed payment schedule and can be used to fund anything desired, including living costs, health care or education costs. You are given a lump sum of money up front, and you will be required to make monthly payments. Eligibility requirements vary by provider, but most also require a credit check.

Home Equity Loans

Through a home equity loan you may borrow a lump sum of money and use home ownership as collateral. A credit check is required, and most lenders require moderate to good credit ratings. Home equity loans tend to have lower interest rates than many other loans. Also, interest rates can be fixed, so there is no need to worry about increases. These loans allow flexibility for spending and they can be used in any way in which the borrower chooses.

Grants and Crowdfunding

The NEA Foundation
The NEA Foundation’s $2,000 Learning and Leadership Grant can be used to pay for an individual Fellow’s professional development programs, like TNTP Academy. Grants are only available to Fellows who will not receive a master’s degree. Deadlines for grant applications are February 1, June 1, and October 1. Fellows must independently complete their grant application.

Go Fund Me
Ask your community to help you make the transition. Some of our Fellows have used crowdfunding on platforms such as Go Fund Me, a personal fundraising site to “crowd-source” personal expenses. You set up the page and friends and family make small donations on a secure site. The money you raise is deposited directly into your bank account. Go Fund Me charges 7.9 percent of your total donation + $0.30.

Amazon Wish Lists
Create a wish list on Amazon.com and send it out to family, friends, former colleagues, and professional networks. This is a great way to start setting up a classroom reading library or getting basic supplies like Expo markers, poster paper, or cleaning supplies.

DonorsChoose.org
Once you enter the classroom, Donors Choose is a way to “crowdsource” funding for classroom projects and expenses. You are able to post projects for your classroom and individuals can donate. Projects can range from paper and pencils to iPads and projectors. Materials are shipped directly to your school. Any donations made are tax deductible. There is no cost to donors or teachers.

We recruit for high demand subject areas. This allows us to provide partner schools with the teachers they need the most and also provides more options for you to find a teaching job.

The first step in the application process is to submit an online application. On the application you will indicate your program and subject area preferences and share basic information about your background and experiences. We ask several questions about your college education, such as GPA and credit hours, so you might find it helpful to have your transcripts available. You will also respond to four hypothetical scenarios that a first-year teacher might experience. We’re not looking for a right answer so don’t sweat it! We don’t expect candidates to have in-depth knowledge of education issues or teaching strategies when applying; that is why we have a rigorous training program. Simply draw on your critical thinking and other transferable skills to briefly explain how you might approach the situation. Our students come from diverse backgrounds and experiences and we’re looking for the same in our Fellows.

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, so apply early to increase your chance of admission to your first-choice program and subject area. You will receive a response to your application approximately two to three weeks after submission.

Once you successfully complete the selection process, you’ll receive an official offer to enroll. Offers are extended on a rolling basis. To enroll you will complete two tasks in your application portal.

1. Review and Sign the BCTR Commitment Agreement
2. Complete a short survey to accept your offer.

After you complete your tasks and accept your offer, you will connect with your assigned program staff to begin preparing for summer training.

Once enrolled, you’ll receive guidance on completing mandatory state exams in your subject area and free exam preparation resources from our Exam Preparation Coach. Test dates are limited and the exams may be challenging to pass. We strongly encourage you to register and complete your required exams prior to the beginning of pre-service training.

You are eligible to waive the Praxis Core by submitting qualifying scores on the SAT, ACT, and GRE, or if you hold a 3.0 GPA.

Before pre-service training (PST), you will build your foundational knowledge about the teaching profession through online coursework. You will complete self-guided enrollment modules, which include reading, videos, guided reflection, and an assessment at the end.

Once enrolled, you must attend a mandatory three-day orientation in May or June. During Orientation, you will understand and embrace the vision for PST and learn how your performance will be measured over the summer. You will also meet Baltimore city’s students and explore its schools and communities, complete and submit employment paperwork with Baltimore City schools and cultivate relationships with other enrollees, BCTR staff, and alumni. Expect more information, including the dates, when you enroll.

During Orientation Week you’ll receive the Pre-Service Training Handbook to help you make the most of your summer training experience. The handbook explains our innovative training model, including the fundamental skills you will be expected to master (“Fast Start” skills), the techniques we’ve adapted from Teach Like a Champion, skill-building sessions, diversity and inclusion sessions, field experience, and coaching and evaluation methods. The handbook will also include more information on the summer schedule and logistics.

You’ll begin your commitment to your students with a rigorous, six-week pre-service training (PST) program that is centered on field experience. You will study proven teaching techniques and begin to develop the in-depth content knowledge that great teachers use every day to advance student learning. You can expect to practice these techniques intensively, both with peers and with real students in summer school classrooms. Rather than overwhelming you with training that is a mile wide but an inch deep, we focus first on mastery of four foundational teaching skills before shifting to more advanced practices.

There are three main elements to summer training:

• Skill Building Sessions – During skill building sessions, program instructors teach foundational skills such as lesson planning and delivery, classroom management techniques and content specific strategies.
• Field Experience – Field experience is time spent teaching in a summer school classroom. Fellows typically observe a mentor teacher in action and gradually take on responsibility delivering instruction for students in the class. Program coaches visit the classroom regularly to provide real-time feedback and support.
• Responsive Coaching Sessions – In these small group sessions, Fellows practice and receive coaching on targeted skills.

Beginning in pre-service training and continuing through your first year, BCTR coaches will be your most critical line of support as you apply lessons from training sessions with students in your classroom. All coaches are experienced teachers with a track record of raising achievement in challenging classrooms. Throughout pre-service training, BCTR coaches will observe you regularly in your classroom, providing real-time guidance to improve your teaching. After class, you will meet to debrief and discuss concrete strategies you can apply in future lessons. Coaches may also pull you into small skill-building sessions to address your high-priority development needs.

Pre-service training is a full-time commitment with sessions scheduled five days per week. You’ll also have other tasks to complete such as lesson planning, grading student work, practicing with your coach or peers, and preparing for your lessons. Daily attendance is mandatory and you must ensure you meet deadlines set for deliverables such as lesson plans.

During pre-service training, our coaches will be your most critical development resource as you apply lessons from training sessions with students in your classroom. All pre-service training coaches are experienced teachers with a track record of raising achievement in challenging classrooms.

Your coaches will visit you regularly in your classroom, providing real-time guidance to improve your teaching. After class, you will meet to debrief and practice concrete strategies you can apply in future lessons. Coaches will also pull you into small skill-building sessions to address your high-priority development needs.

You can’t improve without critical feedback. Whether you are struggling with delivering content or striving to improve your classroom management skills, your coach will focus their expertise on helping you quickly get up to speed in that area. This rich feedback and personalized professional development will help you grow quickly into an amazing teacher.

During your first year as a full-time teacher, you will complete TNTP Academy certification coursework under the guidance of outstanding former teachers. Depending on your needs, sessions will be in person, virtually, or a combination of both. TNTP Academy Instructors, mostly BCTR full-time instructional staff, will focus their expertise to ensure that you master the most critical knowledge required for your subject area, along with the skills and mindsets needed to support students to master that material effectively. You will open your classroom regularly, either through classroom visits or through video you record, allowing staff to see you in action, and provide actionable guidance and concrete strategies to apply in future lessons.

Throughout the year, you will also participate in skill-building sessions to deepen your proficiency in proven teaching techniques used by top educators nationwide, as well as equity sessions to reflect on your beliefs and experiences and how these influence your approach to the students in your classroom. Through intensive practice and feedback, you’ll achieve fluency in the fundamentals of good teaching while developing the advanced skills you need to grow from good to great. At every step, this training will be customized to reflect your individual strengths and development areas through virtual and in-person courses.

Residents teaching Special Education will be dually certified in Elementary, Math or English. As a result, they must complete additional certification coursework, one for each content area.

TNTP Academy holds high standards for certification and our teachers are widely recognized for their ability to help high-need students make dramatic learning gains.

As a first-year Resident, you will be evaluated on the Baltimore City Schools evaluation system to ensure you remain on track to become a great teacher. The evaluation system incorporates a wide variety of evidence from your classroom to create the fullest possible picture of your performance. TNTP Academy is designed to address your high-priority development needs.

By setting a high bar and helping you meet it, we ensure that you are capable of getting real results for students. And as a TNTP Academy graduate, principals and district officials will know that you are not simply a certified teacher, but one with a proven track record in the classroom.

After successful completion of your first year of teaching, Residents will have the opportunity to apply to an online program to earn a Master of Science in Education degree from the Johns Hopkins University.

This program is designed to build on the TNTP Academy training experience, with collaborative spaces for experiential learning through TNTP Academy to be applied toward Johns Hopkins University Master’s degree requirements. Participants will earn a Master’s degree while enjoying savings achieved through a reduced course load.

Teachers are more successful when they work in a school that is a good fit for them. As a Resident, you will be responsible for leading your own job search to ensure that both you and your principal feel good about the match. BCTR staff will inform you when you are eligible to begin your job search.

While our staff will offer resources and guidance, all hiring decisions are ultimately made by principals or other school-based administrators. We do not place Residents in a school. Instead, you should expect to conduct a personal job search. You will also need to be extremely flexible about your teaching assignment, anticipating you will work in the school where you are needed most.

Although this may sound daunting, BCTR will help you navigate the district hiring process, showing you how to find vacancies and occasionally coordinating interviews with principals. In addition, our team will host school meet and greets, set up mock interviews and review résumés.

While admission to Baltimore City Teaching Residency does not guarantee a teaching position, the need for quality teachers in critical-shortage subjects remains high.

For the past ten years, 100 percent of Residents that have passed the pre-service training have been hired by the district for a specific school position.

Once hired, you will be a full-time employee of Baltimore City Public Schools and will earn the same starting salary as any other first-year teacher in the district. Currently, the average first-year teacher salary is $55,000.

As a Resident, you can also access the same comprehensive benefits as all new teachers in city schools, including medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage. For more specific information on benefits, please visit the Baltimore City Public Schools website or contact their Office of Human Capital at 410-396-8885.