FAQs
What is LAUTR?
The Los Angeles Urban Teacher Residency (LAUTR) is an intensive credential and master’s program designed to equip future teachers to close the achievement gap in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) urban classrooms through excellence, equity and innovation.
How long is the program?
The program begins with a 14-month residency, during which time you will be taking classes at California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) and working alongside a mentor teacher in his/her classroom for the full academic year. After that, you commit to teach for three years in a public school of high need. For the first two of those three years, LAUTR will continue to support you through an induction program designed to clear your credential.
When does the program start?
Cohort 2, for which we are currently recruiting, will begin the LAUTR program in Summer 2011. However, because of budget cuts, the university is not accepting new students for the summer quarter. Therefore, you will have to apply to the University and the Charter College of Education (CCOE) for the Spring 2011 quarter to secure your status as a student.
What class(es) will I take in the Spring of 2011?
That’s up to you. You may want to take a foundational class in the education department to begin building your pedagogical knowledge, a Math or Science class to deepen your content knowledge, or any other class that may be of interest to you (such as a music, literature, or a foreign language). However, in order to secure your admissions to the university, you must enroll in at least 1 unit in the Spring 2011 quarter.
When do I apply?
The University has still not finalized the dates for applying for Spring 2011 quarter, but we anticipate the window to be October 1 – November 30, 2010. We encourage you to submit your applications as soon as you can within that window. Make sure you keep copies of everything you submit!
How do I apply?
First, please email your resume to [email protected] and attend an information session so we can get a chance to meet you, explain our program, and answer any questions you might have.
Next, you should study for, register, and take the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) and the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) (subtests I, II, and III in either Math or Science).
Review the required documentation to apply to the single-subject credential program at CSULA and begin collecting these documents as soon as possible. Please note that some of these items, such as the Certificate of Clearance (getting your fingerprints taken at a LiveScan facility and submitting the form to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC)) and letters of recommendation, may take several months to acquire.
We will notify you once the University begins accepting new students for Spring 2011, at which time you should submit your applications online to the University and in person to the CCOE.
What CSET exams are required for the program? By when do I need to pass them?
For this program, we require that you take and pass three subtests in Math (110, 111, and 112) or Science (118, 119, and 120-123 (depending on your area of concentration)). Although you can teach Foundational-level Math or Science with only the first two subtests, we want our residents to be highly qualified in their field and expand their employment opportunities. Additionally, this verified content knowledge makes our Residents more valuable to their mentor teachers and placement schools.
Please register for, study for, and take these exams as soon as possible. The next three test dates are September 11, November 6, and January 8. You must pass at least two subtests by November 30, 2010, and all three by February 15, 2011. Please note that you have five hours to complete the test(s), regardless of how many subtests you choose to take at one sitting.
How much does the program cost?
You will be responsible for the testing and application fees, as well as the tuition, fees, and books for each quarter of enrollment at CSULA (6 quarters). Currently (for Fall 2010), the fee for taking more than 6 units is $1,944.80 per quarter for graduate students, but this is subject to change.
How much is the living stipend?
The grant provides residents with a living stipend with $20,000, paid in four increments of $5,000 each, over the course of the 14-month residency. This is designed so you can do the residency full-time. We do not recommend working during the residency. If you do not fulfill your commitment to teach for three years following the residency, you must pay this money back.
Can I get financial aid?
Depending on your income, you might qualify for financial aid (loans, grants, and/or scholarships), but you must complete the online FAFSA application in order to be eligible. Be sure to do this early on and before the Financial Aid published deadlines. To get more information about Financial Aid at CSULA go to http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/finaid/
I already have a multiple subject credential, but I want to get a single-subject credential to improve my job prospects.
The federal Teacher Quality Partnership grant that supports this program has designated that the residency program can only be completed by a first-time credential seeker with no prior teaching experience.
Can I transfer classes into or out of the LAUTR program?
No. Our program is designed as a comprehensive Master’s and credential program, satisfying all state, university, and CCTC requirements. Classes cannot be transferred into our program, nor do we believe that our classes be transferred out to another program.
My degree isn’t in Math or Science. Can I still apply?
Although you need to have a Bachelor’s Degree, it does not need to be specifically in Math or Science. However, you will need to prove that you have the equivalent knowledge of someone who has a Bachelor’s Degree in one of these subjects by passing all three sections of the CSET. This may be difficult if you do not have academic or professional experience in these fields.
I have been working in another field, but am interested in becoming a teacher.
Great! Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions there is. If you are unsure if teaching is the career for you, you may want to consider applying to EnCorps, an organization designed to transition math and science professionals into the classroom.
I’m interested in teaching Special Education.
LAUTR plans on recruiting teachers for Special Education for the third cohort, beginning in Spring 2012. In the meantime, CSULA offers a traditional credentialing program in Special Education.
I cannot attend an information session.
We have tried to offer multiple times and dates to accommodate people’s schedules. However, if you cannot attend an information session, please call us and we can arrange another time to meet or have a phone conference.
I live in another city/state/country.
Our training and subsequent placement takes place at schools in LAUSD Districts 3-7 (Central L.A., East L.A., and South L.A.) and at Cal State L.A., so you should live close enough to commute comfortably to these locations or be willing to relocate.
If you live out-of-state and move to California, please be advised that you will have to pay out-of-state tuition at CSULA until you establish residency (approximately one year).
Additionally, if you do not live in California, it may be difficult to take the CBEST and CSET exams, as they are primarily offered within the state. Please see their websites for testing locations and dates.
During the final selection of residents, the finalists will be invited to Selection Day, during which time raters will judge their potential as future teachers. Attending one of these selection days in person is mandatory.
What is Selection Day?
After submitting your applications and having a phone interview with LAUTR staff, the top candidates will be invited to Selection Day, which is our chance to see your potential as a teacher. This will take place at a local public high school. You will participate in a group problem-solving activity, a class observation, two in-person interviews, and will give a 5-minute lesson to high school students. A group of raters will evaluate candidates using performance rubrics, and the top candidates will be selected for the LAUTR program.
What if I’m not selected to be a Resident for LAUTR?
Ours is a very competitive program. If you go through the process of applying for and being admitted to CSULA and the CCOE, but are not selected for the LAUTR program, you can matriculate in the traditional university teacher preparation program. Through the traditional program, you will not receive the living stipend, and will complete a directed teaching assignment (student teaching) instead of being matched with a mentor teacher for the entire school year.
How competitive is the program? What percentage of applicants is selected?
We strive to attract and select the most talented and promising future teachers. It is difficult to say what percentage of candidates will be selected, as we do not yet know the quantity or quality of the applicants. For the first cohort, we received over 60 applicants for the 25 available positions.
Good luck!
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