Certification

Pre-Service Training is only the first step in a larger certification process. In order to work in an Denver school, all Fellows must also complete all required licensure coursework in Metropolitan State College’s ALP-2 program during their first two years working as a classroom teacher. Fellows who successfully meet all coursework and program requirements will be eligible to apply to the Colorado Department of Education for their teaching license at the conclusion of their second year or third year of teaching. Please note: at this time, a combination license/Master’s degree option exists for special education Fellows only.

Licensure Requirements

In order to begin teaching in Colorado, Fellows must successfully complete Training Institute and comply with all program requirements, including:

• Hold a Bachelor’s Degree conferred no later than [May 31, 2012] with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (or 2.75 on  a case by case basis)
• Submit 3 official transcripts from every college or university you have attended
• Submit proof that you are a permanent resident eligible to work in the United States without employer sponsorship
• Earn a passing score on the Praxis II or PLACE exam (Fellows are responsible for all fees associated with rest registration
• Pass a required background check (Fellows are responsible for any fees associated with the background check)
• Secure a teaching position in one of our partner charter schools or districts  

Please note: This list of requirements is dependent upon Colorado Department of Education, Metropolitan State College of Denver, and school district requirements and is subject to change.

If admitted to the program, Denver Teaching Fellows will provide you with guidance about deadlines to complete each of the above-listed requirements.

Raising the Standard for New Teacher Certification

You chose to pursue a teaching career with the ambition of making a real difference for high-need students. Denver Teaching Fellows aims to guarantee that all of our teachers achieve that goal by setting a high standard for certification.

Throughout your first year, you can count on receiving meaningful feedback and direction on accessing helpful resources to address your development needs. At the end of the year, your performance will be assessed based on actual classroom results. This assessment will incorporate multiple measures—including principal evaluations and successful completion of all program requirements—but student academic progress will be given the greatest weight. Only teachers who are at least as effective as the average new teacher in Denver Public Schools will be recommended for certification.

While this is a high bar, it is one intended to ensure you develop into an effective teacher quickly, so you can have the greatest impact on your students. Once you earn certification, principals and district officials will know that you are not simply a certified teacher, but one with a proven track record of getting results.

Metropolitan State College of Denver

In order to work in a Denver school, all Fellows must enroll in Metropolitan State College’s ALP-2 program and begin taking their first classes immediately upon successful completion of Summer Training Institute. Fellows complete the program in roughly two years. Through this program, Fellows build on what they learned during the summer and develop new skills that help them achieve excellence throughout their teaching career.

Upon successfully completing all program requirements and licensure coursework, Fellows will graduate eligible to apply for a teaching license from the Colorado Department of Education. Special education Fellows have the option of enrolling in a Master’s option, which requires the completion of only nine additional units beyond the licensure program. This Master’s option is not available for our math and bilingual Spanish Fellows.

Please note: Denver Teaching Fellows will provide you with information about when to enroll at Metropolitan State College of Denver. No action on your part is necessary at this point.

Program Costs and Financial Assistance:

• The full cost of licensure coursework for Fellows teaching math and bilingual Spanish is $7,200
• The full cost of licensure coursework for Fellows teaching special education is $9,000 (licensure only) or $12,600 (licensure plus Master’s)
• *Tuition amounts listed above are subject to change

Fellows are responsible for all costs associated with the Metropolitan State College of Denver, but financial assistance–including potential eligibility for a $5000 Americorps Teaching Award—is available.