BPS Teaching Fellowship

Available subjects

We are recruiting teachers for the following subjects for the 2022-23 school year:

• English as a Second Language

• English as a Second Language and Elementary (dual certification)

• Special Education (Moderate Disabilities)

• Special Education (Moderate Disabilities) and Elementary (dual certification)

To be eligible for the program, you must hold a provisional license in one of the subject areas above and be hired to teach in Boston Public Schools for school year 2022-2023. A provisional license is acquired by receive passing scores on all the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) required for that subject area. 

Learn more about licensure requirements here. Candidates who enroll in the Fellowship will be able to take part in free MTEL preparation courses in January and/or March of 2023. 

Note: Eligibility and academic requirements are established by the Massachusetts Department of Education and are therefore non-negotiable and subject to change.

Salary & Program Costs

As a full-time employee of BPS, you will earn the same starting salary as other first-year teachers. First-year teachers earn more than $52,000 and can make well over $70,000 by their sixth year. You will also have access to the same comprehensive benefits as all new teachers in BPS, including medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage.

Thanks to a grant from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, tuition for the BPS Teaching Fellowship will be $6,000 in SY2022-23. Fellows can pay the full amount at the beginning of the program OR pay installments from their BPS salary. The full amount must be paid upon the completion of the Fellowship.

Waiver Policy

The BPS Teaching Fellowship may waive the requirement for courses met through the successful completion of prior coursework that substantially addresses the content of program courses.  As documentation for the waiver, the participant needs to submit the syllabus of the prior coursework and official transcript of the grade received for the coursework completion.

In all other program areas without exception, all candidates must meet the admission criteria outlined in the admission policy above in order to be granted acceptance into the program. Candidates must maintain good standing in order to advance through the program by meeting all program requirements, including passage of all required content MTEL exams prior to beginning the pre-practicum and passage of the pre-practicum teaching performance assessment prior to advancing to the practicum. Successful completion of the practicum and recommendation for licensure requires meeting all previous program requirements and a passing score on the Candidate Assessment of Performance, indicating full candidate readiness for teaching. 

Advising Policy

During the BPS TF program, candidates will work closely with the Program Manager of Diversity Programs who will monitor and guide their program progress. Effective advising from the Program Manager is essential to:

• Onboard teacher candidates to the program

• Support candidate hiring and pre-practicum and practicum placements

• Maximize professional growth opportunities and learning outcomes

• Support teacher candidate induction and program completion

The advising process is designed to help candidates:

• Understand and progress through program and ESE requirements

• Prepare and secure a teacher position 

• Support ongoing professional growth and develop timelines for program completion

Additionally, candidates will receive coaching support from program supervisors and mentoring from supervising practitioners during their induction to teaching and throughout the practicum. Between  the Program Manager of Diversity Programs, program supervisors, and supervising practitioner, BPS Teaching Fellowship candidates will be fully supported and advised throughout the program to ensure their successful completion of the program,  obtaining licensure, and selection for a teaching position.

Admission Policy

The BPS Teaching Fellowship (BPS TF) is a rigorous teacher preparation program genuinely, uniquely and energetically committed to diversity where individuals of all backgrounds and experiences are welcomed, included, encouraged, and can succeed and flourish. We admit candidates who:

• Meet the basic admission criteria:

  • Possess a bachelor’s degree

  • Hold an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher

  • Demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States

  • Pass a background check

• Demonstrate the defining attributes necessary to successfully complete our program and succeed as teachers in diverse educational settings

• Have the potential to become effective teachers to meet the diverse needs of learners

When considering candidates for admission, we use a selection model to admit candidates who have the background to teach our highest need students based upon their completed application file and interview process. Furthermore, candidates must demonstrate effective teaching practices and professional growth during field teaching experiences to maintain good standing, advance through the program, and receive recommendation for licensure.