BPS Teaching Fellowship

Our innovative training model is designed to help Fellows lead their students to success from the moment they step into their classrooms.

One-on-One Coaching

BPS Teaching Fellows receive rigorous instructional coaching, mentoring, and advising from doctorate-level, BPS Teaching Specialists. Our coaching model will help Fellows see exponential growth in their practice over time. They will receive immediate feedback from experienced BPS coaches to support the growth and development of students.

Summer Enrollment and Early Fall Pre-Practicum

In the summer, Fellows begin pre-practicum online coursework. In September, Fellows begin their pre-practicum, coursework ,and an orientation to the Fellowship. Throughout the pre-practicum, Fellows receive individualized, in-person coaching and support from our Specialists.

School Year Practicum

Fellows who demonstrate foundational teaching proficiency during the pre-practicum will advance to the practicum phase of the program, where they receive continuous coaching, feedback, and professional development as BPS teachers of record. Fellows are also required to participate in biweekly Academy Sessions.

Assessment Performance

Throughout the school year, Fellows are assessed on the state’s Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP) rubric to ensure that by the end of the school year they have met program competencies to earn licensure to continue their career as BPS teachers.

Accelerated Path to Initial Licensure

Upon completion of this program, Fellows who meet the program requirements are endorsed for Initial License in Moderate Disabilities (PreK-12) or English as a Second Language (ESL) (PreK-12).

The BPS Teaching Fellowship (BPSTF) is a rigorous teacher preparation program committed to diversity where individuals of all backgrounds and experiences succeed and flourish. To ensure we are developing educators who will have an impact on students with disabilities and multilingual learners, we admit candidates who meet the basic admission criteria:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree

• Demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States

• Pass a CORI/SORI

• Are hired as a BPS Teacher of Record at a BPS school for the SY 2026-2027

To be considered, candidates must submit a resume, cover letter, transcripts and letters of recommendation. Additionally, all applicants are interviewed to determine their eligibility and commitment.

We recruit teachers who are interested in obtaining licensure in the following areas:

• English as a Second Language (PreK-12)

• Special Education (Moderate Disabilities) (PreK-12)

Learn more about licensure requirements here.

Upon program completion, the BPS Teaching Fellowship endorses Fellows for Initial Licensure; all licensure is ultimately granted by DESE.

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

Fellows must maintain good standing in order to advance through the program by meeting all program requirements, including attending all required Academy Sessions, completing all online and Academy Session coursework on time, and engaging in reflective practice by shifting instructional strategies during observation and feedback cycles. A final requirement is completing all components of the state’s Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP), indicating Fellow readiness for endorsement for Initial Licensure. 

During the BPSTF program, Fellows work closely with the specialists to receive support in the following ways:

• Onboarding to the program

• Maximizing professional growth opportunities and learning outcomes

• Supporting induction into school and district policies and instructional vision and practice

• Support with understanding and incorporating elements of the CAP

Additionally, Fellows will receive extensive coaching support from program supervisors and mentoring from Supervising Practitioners during their induction to teaching.