Both the NYC Teaching Fellows and NYC Teaching Collaborative are alternative certification programs designed to prepare individuals who do not have a background in education and are interested in becoming teachers. Participants are able to teach full-time while completing teacher certification requirements.
- Each of these programs each has a similar mission: to raise student achievement by providing an influx of high-quality teachers to the classrooms which need them most.
- Both are alternative certification programs operated by NYC Public Schools.
- Participants in both programs train in a NYC public school classroom in one of our Teaching Academies, NYC public schools that have agreed to host pre-service teachers during their training.
- Participants in both programs will begin a master’s degree in education that is tailored to support their work in high need schools and will provide a foundation for a lifelong career in education.
*Available certification areas can vary from year to year and program to program to meet the needs of NYC schools. For the most up-to-date list, please visit the program website when the application is open.
Main differences between the programs
Training Model
NYC Teaching Fellows train from June to August and are placed at a NYC public school and paired with an experienced Coach in their classroom during summer school. Fellows simultaneously attend Skill-Building Sessions led by NYCTF program staff. After their summer training, Fellows will then begin teaching full-time in their own NYC classroom while beginning their master’s degree studies.
NYC Teaching Collaborative provides a spring residency experience for an entire school semester. Partner Teachers will be assigned to a NYC public school and will learn from and work alongside a highly skilled Collaborative Coach in their classroom during a 4-5 month period. PTs simultaneously attend Skill-Building Sessions led by NYCTC program staff. After the Collaborative experience, PTs will then begin teaching full-time in their own NYC classroom in September while continuing their master’s degree.
Hiring Guidelines
Another key difference is where program participants actually work following training. While both programs emphasize in their mission serving the highest need schools in New York City:
NYC Teaching Fellows are eligible to accept a position in any NYC Department of Education school that receives Title I funding.
NYC Teaching Collaborative Partner Teachers are committed to making a profound impact in the classrooms which need them most and upon enrolling commit to teach in a specific set of identified highest need schools in New York City. These restrictions may change from year to year and will be communicated to Partner Teachers after their enrollment and before they begin their job search.