Welcome to the Relay Chicago Prospective Candidate Guide! Read below for information on our programs and the application process. Email us at support@relay.edu with any questions, or set up an appointment to speak with us on a phone or video call.
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 (paid) 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 a lead teaching job in the state of Illinois 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:
- Are a full-time lead teacher, or applying for lead teaching positions
- 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
Residency
The Residency is a two-year program for aspiring teachers. 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. This pathway is similar to the MAT program above but includes:
- A gradual on-ramp into the teaching profession and additional supports
- A school-based mentor and three additional class hours each week focused on teaching practice
- A co-teaching role that increases teaching responsibility throughout the first year
- Eligibility to take on a lead teaching role in the second year
LICENSURE
Relay offers an IL teaching licensure track for all graduate students who meet the IL state eligibility requirements for alternative licensure programs. Graduate students who meet these state eligibility requirements will receive an Educator License with Stipulations (ELS) at the beginning of the program and a Professional Educator License (PEL) upon graduating.
All licensure requirements, including passing content tests, must be met in June of the application year in order to be eligible to begin at Relay in July. (Note: The testing deadline for your program (e.g. CPS Residency or TFA) may be sooner. Deadlines are subject to change due to COVID-19.)
For additional details on earning licensure at Relay Chicago, please view our most current Illinois Teacher Certification/ Licensure Guide.
SCHEDULE FOR APPLYING
Applying for the MAT Program
[Note: if you are applying to the MAT through a partner program (e.g. Teach for America, D187, Noble SPED MAT), please follow application instructions and timelines from the partner instead of applying directly to Relay on your own.]
|
Month |
Action Steps |
|
Before February |
Check your eligibility for our MAT program by reading the IL Licensure Eligibility Requirements article. Email support@relay.edu if you have any questions about your eligibility. Secure a lead teaching role at a K-12 school in Illinois for the upcoming school year. Refer to this document for talking points about licensure to share with prospective employers. Work on studying for and passing your state licensure exam(s) outlined in the Relay Chicago Testing Guide. |
|
March-May |
Complete the Relay program application. |
|
June |
All admissions materials are due, which includes ordering official transcripts from all previous academic institutions, one letter of recommendation, and submitting teaching employment information for the upcoming school year. Finish passing your state licensure exam(s) in order to be enrolled for Summer Term in July (see Relay Chicago Testing Guide). |
|
July |
Year 1 at Relay Chicago launches each year with a mandatory, one-week intensive Summer 1 Term in July. Applicants should plan to be available online from 9 AM - 5 PM Monday through Friday during their assigned program week, plus time for completing coursework in the evenings. Incoming students will be notified of their assigned Summer Term week in late spring. Note: Teach For America corps members may have a different Relay Summer 1 schedule through Relay in coordination with TFA Summer Institute timing. |
Applying for the Residency Program
|
Month |
Action Steps |
|
November - May |
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 winter or spring for the upcoming school year. Residency positions are for high-needs subjects only; typically partner schools are not looking for Language Arts or Social Studies Residents. Check with the partners below for available Relay Residency applications:
If you are moved forward in the Residency 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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March-May |
Once you are accepted into a Residency position, we will send you a unique link to fill out the official Relay graduate school application. Please do not apply to Relay on your own before then, because you will not have access to the correct application. |
|
June |
All admissions materials are due, which includes ordering official transcripts from all previous academic institutions, one letter of recommendation, and submitting teaching employment information for the upcoming school year. Finish passing your state licensure exam(s) in order to be enrolled for Summer Term in July (see Relay Chicago Testing Guide). |
|
July |
Year 1 at Relay Chicago launches each year with a mandatory, one-week intensive Summer 1 Term in July. Applicants should plan to be available online from 9 AM - 5 PM Monday through Friday during their assigned program week, plus time for completing coursework in the evenings. Incoming students will be notified of their assigned Summer Term week in late spring. |
TUITION COSTS
These are the current 2021-2022 school year out-of-pocket tuition costs for Relay Chicago students. Tuition amounts for the 2022-2023 school year are forthcoming.
Relay is committed to ensuring that our graduate programs are affordable for teachers. The full tuition cost for our two-year programs is $36,000 ($18,000 per year). Relay provides institutional aid to every student, lowering out-of-pocket tuition to $21,000 ($10,500 per year). This tuition price does not include the cost for licensure exams, licensure fees, or graduation fees. Tuition is billed by term and does not come due in your first year until the start of the Fall Term.
For graduate students enrolled in the Residency program, Relay partners with AmeriCorps and other funders to provide scholarships to cover a portion of the tuition at the end of each completed year at Relay. This reduces the total out-of-pocket cost for Residents to $9,000 ($4,500 per year).
Tuition is broken down by term and is billed at the start of each term. Candidates may be eligible for federal financial aid, and monthly payment plans are available to all students through Relay's Student Financial Services. Read more about tuition and billing here.
Because Relay graduate students are employees at their schools, all salaries for lead teacher and Residency positions are determined solely by employers.