Welcome to the Relay Chicago Candidate Guide! For quick information on our programs and the application schedule, read below. For more detailed information, including eligibility requirements and academic year schedule, click here to read the full guide. Email us at chicago@relay.edu with any questions, or set up an appointment to speak with us on Calendly.
Please visit this Support Center article for the most up-to-date information regarding Relay Chicago’s COVID-19 response for prospective students.
PROGRAMS
We offer two graduate programs at Relay Chicago, known as the MAT and Residency. These are described in greater detail below. Here are the elements that are the same for both programs:
- All graduate students at Relay Chicago are employed full-time at a K-12 school in Illinois while attending graduate classes part-time for two years.
- Graduate students who successfully complete the program earn a Master of Arts in Teaching.
- Graduate students who meet the IL state eligibility requirements for alternative licensure programs (see Licensure section below) receive an Educator License with Stipulations (ELS) at the start of the program and the Professional Educator License (PEL) upon graduation.
MAT
The MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) is a two-year program for individuals who have secured lead teaching jobs in the state of Illinois for the 2021-2022 school year, or have been admitted into one of our partner programs (e.g. Teach for America, Noble SPED MAT) that will provide lead teaching placement. For this program, Relay is looking for new and experienced educators who:
- Will be teaching full-time in 2021-22
- Are looking for professional development
- Want to master techniques used by high-performing teachers across the country
- Are eager to learn from, be challenged by, and receive feedback from professors
- Want to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching
- Want to become a licensed teacher in Illinois
Our Chicago-based MAT program has typically been offered as a blend of in-person and online classes (though classes have been conducted fully online during the COVID-19 pandemic). We also offer an online-only MAT program for Illinois teachers that does not require commuting to our campus. Teachers enrolled in the online-only program will receive licensure support and advising from Relay Chicago, but may attend graduate classes with teachers around the country. More details about the academic year and course schedule can be found in the next section of this guide.
Residency
The Residency is a two-year program for aspiring teachers. This pathway is similar to the MAT above, but includes a gradual on-ramp into the teaching profession and additional supports, including a school-based mentor and three additional class hours focused on teaching practice each week. Residents start in a support role and increase their teaching responsibility throughout the first year, and then secure lead teaching roles in year two. This program is for individuals hired into Resident positions at one of our partner schools (see application section below), and is currently only available in the city of Chicago.
SCHEDULE FOR APPLYING
Applying for the MAT Program
[Note: if you are applying to the MAT through a partner program (e.g. TFA, Noble SPED MAT), please follow application instructions and timelines from the partner org instead of applying directly to Relay on your own.]
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Before February, 2021 |
Check your eligibility for our MAT program by reading the Licensure section of the Relay Chicago Candidate Guide. Email chicago@relay.edu if you have any questions about your eligibility. Work on studying for and passing your state licensure exam(s) outlined in the Relay Chicago Testing Guide. |
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February - May, 2021 |
When Relay’s 2021 application launches, the link will be shared here, and we will provide a link to all candidates who have indicated interest in applying. Applicants for the MAT program must already have a lead teaching job lined up for the 2021-2022 school year at a school in Illinois. Click here for a walkthrough of our application. |
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June 1, 2021 |
All admissions materials are due, which includes ordering official transcripts from all previous academic institutions, 1-2 letters of recommendation, basic skills score reporting, and submitting teaching employment information for the 2021-2022 school year. |
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June 20, 2021 |
Last date to pass your state licensure exam(s) in order to be enrolled for the start of the 2021-2022 school year. [Deadline subject to change due to COVID-19. See this Support Center article for current updates.] |
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July, 2021 |
Year 1 at Relay Chicago launches with a mandatory, one-week intensive Summer 1 Term in July 2021. Applicants should plan to be available from 9AM - 5PM Monday through Saturday during their assigned program week, plus time for at-home coursework in the evenings. This course is typically held in person, though may be held online depending on COVID-19 pandemic conditions. The Summer Term schedule is typically published in December. Note: Teach For America corps members will have a different Relay Summer 1 schedule through Relay in coordination with TFA Summer Institute timing. |
Applying for the Residency Program
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Fall 2020 - |
Apply for a Residency position directly through our partner schools. The application review will include checking your unofficial transcripts for eligibility into Relay’s program. You may be invited to interview with the partner school/network/district. Partner school applications typically open in the fall or winter for the upcoming school year. Residency positions are for high needs subjects only; partner schools are typically not looking for Language Arts or Social Studies Residents. Check with the partners below for available applications: Special Education, Math, and Sciences only:
Special Education, Elementary, and some Middle School subjects:
If you are moved forward in the partner hiring process, partners will invite you to begin studying for and passing your state licensure exam(s) outlined in the Relay Chicago Testing Guide. |
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February - May, 2021 |
Once you are accepted into a Residency position, we will send you a unique link to fill out the official Relay graduate school application. Do not apply to Relay on your own before then, because you will not have access to the correct application. Click here for a walkthrough of our application. |
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June 1, 2021 |
All admissions materials are due, which includes ordering official transcripts from all previous academic institutions, 1-2 letters of recommendation, basic skills score reporting, and submitting teaching employment information for the 2021-2022 school year. |
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June 20, 2021 |
Last date to pass your state licensure exam(s) in order to be enrolled for the start of the 2021-2022 school year. [Deadline subject to change due to COVID-19. See this Support Center article for current updates.] |
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July, 2021 |
Year 1 at Relay Chicago launches with a mandatory, one-week intensive Summer 1 Term in July 2021. Applicants should plan to be available from 9AM - 5PM Monday through Saturday during their assigned program week, plus time for at-home coursework in the evenings. This course is typically held in person, though may be held online depending on COVID-19 pandemic conditions. The Summer Term schedule is typically published in December. |