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Application
- Is there a time commitment for members of the UNITE Program?
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Yes. UNITE is a two year program. In that first year, members are a part of the Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP), where they will complete their student teaching, receive on-going training as a full-time classroom teacher, attend professional development seminars twice a month, engage in monthly UNITE community programming, receive regular teacher mentoring and coaching, and develop a Teaching Portfolio. Upon successful completion of the ATCP components, UNITE members will be fully certified to teach in the state of Illinois and will have earned more than half (22 credits) of the credits needed for a Master of Science degree in Education from Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy.
The UNITE program 2nd year focuses on the continued professional development of our teachers. UNITE 2nd year teachers continue to attend ICTC professional development seminars, continue to receive coaching and mentoring from ICTC staff, continue to participate in UNITE community programming, and may elect to continue forward with Northwestern University courses. Additionally, those teachers who continue to serve in underserved school communities may have opportunities to earn additional tuition assistance toward completing the Masters of Education or other advanced degrees by participating in the AmeriCorps Education Award Program (AEAP).
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- Is there a minimum GPA for the program?
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Yes. UNITE members will be completing Masters level coursework at Northwestern University, requiring a 3.0 as a benchmark GPA in their acceptance process.
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- Is there a financial commitment for the UNITE member?
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Yes. UNITE members are paid directly by the school district or independent school in which they work. The UNITE program does not make any deductions from teaching salary earned by the UNITE member. The UNITE member will be responsible for paying a portion of the Northwestern University tuition and ICTC Training Institute costs; this will be paid in installments throughout the program year. Tuition and program cost for the UNITE Class of 2011 is projected to be $11,700.
ICTC’s UNITE program is currently a part of AmeriCorps. Those UNITE members who have not served previously as AmeriCorps members are eligible for two awards, one at the end of each year of service. The first award goes directly to Northwestern University. The second award can be used by the UNITE member toward future educational expenses or to repay qualified student loans. These benefits are not guaranteed but are dependent on Congressional funding cycles and grant awards. We anticipate receiving final confirmation on education awards for next year in spring 2010. As a student at Northwestern University, UNITE members may be eligible for financial aid through the Northwestern University financial aid office.
The UNITE Class of 2011 teachers will be responsible for out of pocket tuition expenses, payable to Northwestern University, in the amount of $7750. Additionally, UNITE Class of 2011 teachers are responsible for $3950 in program fees to Inner City Teaching Corps, due according to the following schedule:
May 1, 2010 = $500.00 (accompanied with an accepted candidates letter of intent)
October 1, 2010 = $1150.00
February 1, 2011 = $1150.00
June 1, 2011 = $1150.00
If a UNITE member should leave the program prior to fulfilling his/her commitment, the person will incur the entire cost of the program. Northwestern University tuition expenses alone are in excess of $18,000 per UNITE member, however, the additional costs are assumed by the Inner-City Teaching Corps (ICTC) and a CPS tuition subsidy.
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- What kind of training will we receive upon entering the program?
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UNITE members participate in the specially designed Alternative Teacher Certification Program, developed in partnership with the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. The ATCP begins with an 8 week Summer Training Institute designed specifically for non-education majors preparing for their first year teaching. The Summer Training portion of the ATCP includes student teaching with a mentor teacher at a summer school, in-class observations by supervisors and various in-services and coursework at Northwestern University specifically geared for beginning urban teachers. UNITE members will also be prepared for the Illinois State Content Certification Test to be taken during the summer portion of the program.
The training continues throughout the year with on-going Professional Development. Training also involves interactive classroom experiences covering a variety of educational issues. During the school year each UNITE Corps member will have the support of Clinical Supervisors from Northwestern and the ICTC staff as well as a mentor teacher at the school.
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- Am I paid for my summer student teaching and training?
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No. Legally, individuals cannot be paid while earning any credit for student teaching. Summer training for UNITE will be an intense, full-time, 8-week session starting in June during which UNITE members will earn student teaching credits. UNITE members will begin receiving a salary when the official school year begins at their school of hire. For UNITE members who teach in the Chicago Public Schools, health insurance coverage will begin one month after the start date of hire.
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- What is the salary of a first year teacher?
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The 2009-2010 starting salary for first year teachers (Lane 1, Step 1) in the Chicago Public Schools is $46,761.
The full 2009-2010 CPS pay scale for all Lane and Step classifications is provided below:
CPS Starting Salary Ranges* (School Year -- 40 Weeks/193 days):
$46,761 - $51,822 (B.A.) (Lane 1, Step 1 – Lane 1, Step 3)
$50,000 - $55,060 (M.A.) (Lane 2, Step 1 – Lane 2, Step 3)
$51,620 - $56,679 (M.A. +15) (Lane 3, Step 1 – Lane 3, Step 3)
$53,239 - $58,299 (M.A. +30) (Lane 4, Step 1 – Lane 4, Step 3)
$54,858 - $59,918 (M.A. +45) (Lane 5, Step 1 – Lane 5, Step 3)
$56,478 - $61,539 (Ph.D./Ed.D) (Lane 6, Step 1 – Lane 6, Step 3)
The above salaries reflect annual salaries, plus the 7% employer pension contribution.
The 2009-2010 starting salary for first year Archdiocese of Chicago teachers is approximately $27,000. Additional compensation may be offered for advanced degrees.
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- Can a UNITE Corps member have a part time job?
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ICTC recommends that whenever possible UNITE members refrain from having part time employment during their time in the program. Learning to become an effective teacher is more than a full time job. Developing a Professional Development Portfolio, teaching, attending classes, maintaining class records, and grading all add up to an intense, busy schedule.
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- Does ICTC help with financial arrangements in the summer or the living arrangements for the year?
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No. Legally, individuals cannot be paid for teaching while they earn credit for student teaching. Summer training for UNITE will be an intense, full-time, 8-week session starting in June during which UNITE members will earn student teaching credits. UNITE members will begin receiving a salary when the official school year begins. ICTC is also not responsible for living arrangements for UNITE corps members.
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- What kind of health insurance will I have?
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Teachers in the Chicago Public Schools may choose among two different HMO policies and three different PPO policies offered. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and United Healthcare administer these various insurance policies. The cost for CPS health insurance is paid for through payroll deductions based upon base salary, number of family members enrolled and administrator (running from 1.3%-2.8% employee contribution).
For those choosing to teach in the Archdiocese of Chicago, health insurance is administered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, which includes vision, and Dental coverage through CompDent. The members can choose to be either a part of HMO or PPO programs and may add on family members for a cost. Schools will provide specific information.
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- Where will the school that I serve be located?
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UNITE members will teach in underserved schools throughout Chicago, predominantly in African-American and Latino communities. ICTC has historically worked with schools on the West and South sides of the city of Chicago.
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- Where do I get the registration materials and study guides for the Illinois Basic Skills test?
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Applicants must pass the state-required Basic Skills test as part of the admissions process to be eligible for the program. Applicants must include either the official test scores from the Illinois State Board of Education or a copy of the confirmation stating when they will be taking the test with all their other application materials. All applicants must be registered for a test date scheduled before the February final application deadline. The cost of the test is $60 with a $25 registration fee per test date. Applicants must contact the Illinois State Board of Education to register for the test themselves. The ISBE website is www.isbe.net . Test registration is at www.icts.nesinc.com.
The registration bulletin and study guides may be obtained from departments and schools of education at Illinois colleges and universities, from the Regional Offices of Education, or from either of the offices listed below:
If applicants have questions regarding program policies or which test(s) they must take, they should contact: ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION AND TESTING DIVISION 100 NORTH FIRST STREET SPRINGFIELD, IL 62777 TELEPHONE: (800) 845-8749 Phone for the Hearing Impaired: (217) 782-0837 Internet address: www.isbe.net
If applicants have questions regarding test registration, administration procedures, or the receipt of registration, admission ticket, or score report, they should contact: NATIONAL EVALUATION SYSTEMS, INC. P.O. BOX 660 AMHERST, MA 01004-9000 TELEPHONE: (800) 239-8107 or (413) 256-2870 Phone for the Hearing Impaired: (413) 256-8032
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- What happens if I do not pass the Basic Skills or State Certification Test?
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UNITE candidates/members should know that their ability to continue in the Alternative Teacher Certification Program is contingent upon passing all 3 required tests for Illinois teacher certification: the Illinois Basic Skills test; the Illinois State Content Certification test; the Assessment of Professional Teaching test.
The Illinois Basic Skills test must be taken as a part of application to the program. Acceptance into the program is conditional upon a passing Illinois Basic Skills test score. UNITE corps members will take the remaining two certification exams, the Illinois State Content Certification test and the Assessment of Professional Teaching test, after their program year has begun..
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- How will the interview process work?
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The interview process for UNITE candidates is a two part process. Part I, the Teaching Potential Interview, involves teaching a 5 minute mini-lesson where applicants will be observed for their presentation styles, development of critical thinking skills and ability to break down a concept into simple parts. Teaching Potential Interviews are a group interview, with candidates serving as one another’s student audience. Teaching Potential Interviews will be video taped. Those applicants who successfully pass through the first stage of interviews will be invited back for a part II interview, a more formal/traditional interview.
ICTC will select the applicants to be interviewed. Selected applicants will be notified of the time, date and location of their interview. Interviews will take place in late February/early March.
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- How do school placements work?
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The UNITE program arranges for Corps Member placement for the summer student teaching portion of the program. The program does not however place Corps Members into their 1st year teaching assignments; no alternative teacher certification program in the city of Chicago makes 1st year teacher placements.
Hiring in the city of Chicago is a principal driven process – a principal will hire who he or she chooses to hire. Applicants should be aware that in the entire history of the UNITE program we have never had a teacher who did not secure a teaching position.
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- OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS
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There are three application deadline dates. October 1st and December 1st are the application deadline dates for those candidates wishing to be considered for early acceptance into the UNITE program. February 1st is the final program application deadline. For all application periods ALL application materials are to be submitted in their entirety in a single envelope.
For October and December applicants ALL materials must be RECEIVED by close of business on the date of the application deadline. Additionally, early consideration applicants must take the Illinois Basic Skills Test on a date prior to the application deadline.
February application materials must be POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN the application deadline date in order to be considered for candidacy to the UNITE program. Incomplete applications, or applications dated after the application deadline date will not be considered for program admission.
In extreme cases in which a reference letter, transcript or test score cannot be obtained prior to the application deadline date, all available information should be sent by February 1, followed by the missing pieces. The parts of the application prepared by applicant (e.g., personal history and three essays) must be submitted on time. Prior approval of the UNITE program director is necessary for an incomplete application to be considered for program admission.
Application parts:
Personal history information
Essay I
Essay II
Resume
Three letters of recommendation (Original letters of recommendation must be enclosed in an envelope with the referent’s signature across the seal.)
Letter of Recommendation A: To be completed by current or former supervisor
Letter of Recommendation B: To be completed by a current or former co-worker
Letter of Recommendation C: To be completed by a personal referent (someone who has know the applicant for an extended period of time and who is familiar with their decision to apply to UNITE)
Official transcripts for all college and graduate coursework
Official test scores form the ISBE Basic Skills Test or a copy of their confirmation letter for a test date sitting no later than the February 1st final application deadline.
**** Early consideration applicants must take the ISBE Basic Skills Test prior to their application submission. ****
Do you have further questions? Please contact Lisa Vogt, UNITE Director, at (312) 491-9100 x227 or via e-mail at lvogt@ictc-chicago.org.
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