View and download this guide as a PDF: Relay Chicago Candidate Guide 2019-2020
WELCOME
We’re excited to hear you are interested in Relay Chicago! This Candidate Guide provides an overview of the programs we offer at Relay Chicago, information on licensure testing requirements, and details about schedule and tuition.
MAT
The MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) is a two-year program for individuals who have secured lead teaching jobs at one of our partner schools for the 19-20 school year. Individuals who successfully complete this program earn a Master of Arts in Teaching at the end of the two years. For this program, Relay is looking for new and experienced educators who:
- Are looking for professional development
- Want to master techniques used by high-performing urban 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 gain IL licensure
Graduate students who meet the state eligibility requirements for licensure (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.
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 (like a school-based mentor and three hours of class focused on practice each week). Residents take on more lead teaching responsibility throughout the first year, and then are prepared to be hired into lead teaching roles in year two. This program is for individuals hired into Resident positions at one of our partner schools. Individuals who successfully complete this program earn a Master of Arts in Teaching at the end of the two years. Graduate students who meet the state eligibility requirements for licensure (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.
Here is a sample Resident schedule:
| A Day in the Life of a Resident |
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7:15 AM: Arrive at School Arrive at school and spend a few minutes preparing for the day by checking in with colleagues, finalizing copies, or preparing materials. |
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7:25 – 7:45 AM: Advisory and Breakfast Support As students arrive, strive to ensure the day gets off to a strong start. Report to advisory/homeroom group, greet students, supervise breakfast, and generally assist with morning procedures. |
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7:45 – 8:25 AM: Community Meeting Attend community meeting with students, sharing a morning message when appropriate or sitting with individual students to ensure they are supported during this time. |
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8:25 – 9:00 AM: Grade Level Support Provide support to assigned grade level. This can look like homework checks, calling parents, small group tutoring, or updating incentive systems. |
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9:00 – 11:30 AM: Observe or Co-Teach with Resident Advisor In the Resident Advisor’s classroom, Residents observe and support. Depending on the time of year and how much teaching responsibility is given, Residents may assist with grading, small-group instruction, push-in support for special-needs students, or re-teaching to students who need additional support. Later in the year, Residents take on a co-teaching role in this classroom. |
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11:30 AM — 12:30 PM: Lunch Duty Eat with students, monitor the lunchroom procedure, supervise recess, strategically build relationships with students. |
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12:30 – 1:30 PM: Prep Time During this break, eat lunch, grade, prepare for an upcoming lesson, or complete graduate school assignments for Relay. |
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1:30 – 3:00 PM: Support Instruction In support of instruction across the school, the afternoon is either spent co-teaching, owning an enrichment class (computers, dance, etc), or substitute teaching. The schedule may vary depending on the day, ensuring there are a variety of instructional experiences for Residents. |
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3:00 – 3:30 PM: Small Group Instruction Pull small groups for remediation and extra support. |
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3:30 – 4:30 PM: Dismissal and After-School Support Execute dismissal, ensuring all students are safely released for the day. Provide extra tutoring during office hours or facilitate an extracurricular activity, such as sports or drama club. |
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4:30 – 5:00 PM: Prepare for the Week Ahead Close out the day by meeting with Resident Advisor, preparing materials, studying lesson plans, or completing Relay work. |
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5:00 – 8:00 PM: Personal Time Travel back home, exercise, cook, relax with friends, etc. |
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8:00 – 9:00 PM: General Work Time Complete pre-work or assignments for graduate school, grade papers, etc. |
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9:00 – 10:00 PM: Relaxation Relax and wind down at the end of the day. |
LICENSURE
Relay offers an IL teaching licensure track for all graduate students who meet the state eligibility requirements upon enrolling at Relay. All requirements must be met no later than June 30, 2019 in order to be eligible. (The deadline for your program (e.g. CPS, TFA) may be sooner.) Graduate students who meet the IL state eligibility requirements for licensure will receive an Educator License with Stipulations (ELS) at the beginning of the program and a Professional Educator License (PEL) upon graduating.
Requirements:
- Cannot already hold an IL teaching license (para or sub licenses are ok)
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (either conferred Bachelor’s GPA or conferred graduate GPA)
- Minimum credit requirements for the particular licensure area (see Table 1 below)
- Pass all required ILTS exams by June 30, 2019 (see Testing section below)
These regulations are requirements of the Illinois State Board of Education for alternative licensure candidates and Relay does not have flexibility. Relay does a thorough review of transcripts during the application review process.
| Licensure Area | Credit Requirements Upon Entry |
| Secondary Mathematics (9-12) | A major in mathematics; ORA major in a mathematics-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of mathematics-related coursework |
| Secondary ELA (9-12) | A major in English; ORA major in an English-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of English-related coursework |
| Secondary Science - Chemistry (9-12) | A major in chemistry; ORA major in a chemistry-related subject; OR 32 credit hours in science with at least 12 chemistry or chemistry-related credit hours |
| Secondary Science - Biology (9-12) | A major in biology; OR A major in a biology-related subject; OR 32 credit hours in science with at least 12 biology or biology-related credit hours |
| Secondary Social Science - History (9-12) | A major in history; OR 32 credit hours in a social science with at least 12 history-specific credit hours |
| Middle Grades Mathematics (5-8) | A major in mathematics; OR A major in a mathematics-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of mathematics-related coursework |
| Middle Grades Language Arts (5-8) | A major in English; OR A major in an English-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of English-related coursework |
| Middle Grades General Science (5-8) | A major in a science-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of science-related coursework |
| Middle Grades Social Science (5-8) | A major in a social science; OR 32 credit hours of social science coursework |
| Elementary Education (1-6) | A major in mathematics or a mathematics-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of mathematics-related coursework; OR A major in English or an English-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of English-related coursework; OR A major in a science-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of science-related coursework; OR A major in a social science; OR 32 credit hours of social science coursework |
| Special Education (PK-Age 21) | A major in mathematics or a mathematics-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of mathematics-related coursework; OR A major in English or an English-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of English-related coursework; OR A major in a science-related subject; OR 32 credit hours of science-related coursework; OR A major in a social science; OR 32 credit hours of social science coursework |
For additional details on earning licensure at Relay Chicago, please view the Relay Chicago Class of 2021 Licensure Guide (coming early 2019!).
TESTING
Candidates who are seeking licensure through Relay are required to pass all state licensure exams by June 30, 2019. (The deadline for your program (e.g. CPS, TFA) may be sooner.) Individuals who do not pass all state licensure exams by the deadline are not eligible to participate in Relay. Relay strongly encourages any candidates interested in earning licensure through Relay to get started on state licensure exams as soon as possible. For details, including registration information and study resources, please see the Relay Chicago Testing Guide.
FINANCE
Relay is committed to ensuring our programs are affordable for teachers. After institutional aid from Relay, tuition for the two-year program is $18,000 ($9,000 per year) for the MAT program and $19,000 ($9,500 per year) for the Residency program. This tuition price does not include the cost for licensure exams, licensure fees, or graduation fees.
For graduate students enrolled in the Residency program, Relay will defer a portion of the tuition. This reduces the out of pocket cost to approximately $7,000 ($3,500 per year).
Candidates may be eligible for financial aid. Payment plans are available for all students, and Relay also offers federal student loans.
Many incoming candidates also wonder about salary. Because Relay graduate students are employees at their schools, all salaries are determined solely by employers.
SCHEDULE
Both the MAT and Residency programs are two-year programs and consist of three terms each year: Summer, Fall, and Spring.
| Term | Details |
| Summer 1 | Year 1 at Relay Chicago launches with a mandatory, in-person, one-week Summer 1 Term. Graduate students will be assigned either to Summer 1 Session A or Summer 1 Session B based on teaching employment. Applicants should plan to be available from 9AM - 5PM Monday through Saturday plus time for at-home coursework in the evenings.
Summer 1 Session A: Monday, July 8 - Saturday, July 13 Summer 1 Session B: Monday, July 22 - Saturday, July 27 Residents will also have a mandatory Retreat day together. This is tentatively set for Friday, July 19. Note: This Summer 1 schedule does not apply to incoming Teach For America corps members. |
| Fall 1 and Spring 1 | The Fall and Spring Terms are built around the busy schedule of a teacher, with both online and in-person coursework. Core sessions meet in person about two weeknights per month and content sessions meet online about two weeknights per month. Also, Residents meet for Deliberate Practice during the weekday once per week and Special Educators meet two Saturdays per term. |
| Summer 2 | All graduate students (including Teach For America corps members) will have both online and in-person coursework during the Summer 2 Term. While dates for Summer 2020 aren’t finalized at this time, the in-person portion of the Summer 2 Term typically takes place for one to two weeks in July from 9AM - 5PM Monday through Friday. Scheduling varies by major. |
| Fall 2 and Spring 2 | The school year schedule in year 2 of the program looks slightly different depending on your major. Graduate students can expect to have class sessions approximately 4 weeknights per month and on a few Saturdays in the fall term. |
QUESTIONS?
Interested in learning more? Email us at chicago@relay.edu.