FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the EnCorps program cost me?
EnCorps provides program participants the following free of charge: CSET test prep materials, coaching and support services including Boot Camp, Winter Institute and on-line mentoring. EnCorps also provides up to $7700 in tuition paid directly to an EnCorps University partner. You are responsible for test registration fees and fees associated with ordering transcripts. You are also responsible for all credentialing tuition above $7700, as well as all materials and textbooks required by the University Intern program.
When should I take the CBEST?
Applicants need to have taken the CBEST no later than February 7, 2009 to receive an offer of acceptance for the 2009 EnCorps Cohort. The next CBEST exam takes place on February 7, 200.
When should I take the CSET?
Applicants are encouraged to become familiar with the exam as soon as possible. You must take and pass the exam no later than March 14, 2009.
What are the CBEST and CSET exams?
The CBEST, The California Basic Educational Skills test, examines basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills found to be important for the job of an educator. The exam contains both multiple-choice and essay questions.
The CSET, The California Subject Examinations for Teachers, examines subject-matter competency in a given area. EnCorps applicants are required to take and pass either the Science CSET or the Mathematics CSET.
Can EnCorps send me CSET study materials?
EnCorps provides study materials once you have gone through an interview day with EnCorps and accepted an offer letter.
Is this a volunteer position?
No. All EnCorps teachers serve as employees of a school district and receive a salary and benefits.
Do Intern Teachers get paid?
Yes. Selected and placed EnCorps teachers will become the full time teacher of record in a classroom. Intern teachers receive a salary and benefits from the school district they are employed by. Salary varies by school district. All Intern Teachers are paid at the rate for an inexperienced teacher, regardless of other work experience or graduate education in other fields.
What is it like to be a first year teacher?
We believe that Ellen Moir of the New Teacher Center at Santa Cruz answered that best in her article, "The Phases of First Year Teaching . " An excerpt is below:
First-year teaching is a difficult challenge...While not every new teacher goes through this exact sequence...teachers move through several phases from anticipation, to survival, to disillusionment, to rejuvenation, to reflection; then back to anticipation.
Does my company support EnCorps?
Please visit our Corporate Partner page to see if your company is an EnCorps Partner. If your company is not listed, and you would like to see your company participate in the EnCorps program, please contact us.
What if my company is not currently a partner?
EnCorps encourages applications from all retired math and science professionals interested in becoming teachers. We have a limited scholarship fund for those who do not have a corporate sponsor.
Is the Intern Credential the only pathway into teaching offered by EnCorps?
No. EnCorps utilizes the Intern Teaching Credential pathway because it allows someone to enter the classroom as a teacher immediately and provides hands-on learning. For applicants who would like to pursue credentialing coursework before entering the classroom as a teacher, we also offer access to a single-subject teacher preparation program based on the IBM Transition to Teaching program .
I want to become an EnCorps teacher, but cannot start teaching in 2009. What are my options?
2009 EnCorps Cohort teachers participate in Boot Camp and Pre-Service in Summer 2009 in preparation for beginning a teaching assignment in September 2009. Currently, we do not offer any other start dates in 2009.
Applicants who apply now and are accepted by EnCorps will receive assistance over the next year to complete prerequisites, such as testing. Participants will attend Boot Camp and Pre-Service in Summer 2009 in preparation for beginning a teaching assignment in September 2009.
Can I continue to work at my current job during Boot Camp and Pre-Service?
We do not recommend it. The summer preceding your first day of teaching is a busy one: Boot Camp is a 3-day commitment, Pre-Service is a 6-week commitment. Both programs are extremely rigorous, requiring ALL-DAY ATTENDANCE and some preparation after-hours for the next day’s session.
I have a graduate degree in math or science. Do I need to take the CSET to prove my competency in my subject matter?
Yes. In some rare instances, a candidate may apply for and receive a subject-matter waiver from the University where he or she is enrolled for credentialing courses. The requirements for a waiver are extremely specific and non-negotiable. We recommend that all candidates register for and prepare to take the CSET even if they choose to pursue a waiver so as not to jeopardize their eligibility for the EnCorps program.
What kind of support will I receive as a new teacher?
As a new teacher, you can expect to be paired with a mentor teacher from the school district you work for. We recommend that you do not wait for a mentor to be assigned, but that you identify a compatible mentor yourself. In most instances, your mentor teacher will work at your school site. Depending on the school, your department chairs, administrators, instructional coaches and the principal will play a valuable roll in helping you acclimate to the school environment. You will also participate in the professional development activities provided by your school district. The University Intern program will provide a coach who may visit your classroom and provide feedback. Additionally, on-line mentoring is available to all first-year EnCorps teachers.
Can I teach part-time?
While part-time math and science teaching positions are offered by very few districts and are almost never available to new math and science teachers, you can become a substitute teacher.
Do I need to commit to a specific number of years of teaching?
While there is no requirement that an EnCorps Teacher stays past Year 1, EnCorps only seeks and accepts candidates with a commitment to becoming an effective teacher. Learning to teach is both an art and a science. It can take five years to gain your stride as a new teacher. As you consider becoming an EnCorps Teacher you are considering moving into a rewarding, exciting... and challenging ...career.
How long does it take to earn a credential?
Once you are accepted into an Intern Program, your District or University program will apply for an Intern Credential on your behalf. The Intern Credential is valid for two years and allows you to teach as an Intern teacher. In most cases, you will earn your Preliminary Credential once you have completed two years of credentialing coursework and teaching as an Intern teacher. The Preliminary Credential is valid for five years. Once you have earned you Preliminary Credential, you will begin working towards a Clear Credential by enrolling in BTSA, Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment. A Clear Credential provides more permanent status as a teacher in California.
What if I want to teach a subject other than Math or Science?
EnCorps was developed to address the overwhelming shortages of Math and Science at the middle and high school level. Currently, we do not provide a pathway to teaching at the elementary or adult school level. We do not assist in matching teachers in other subject areas at the middle or high school level.
I want to teach Science. Which CSET exam should I take?
If you would like to teach Science, you have two options. Option one will increase the number of science teaching opportunities for which you would be eligible.
Option One:
The exam is comprised of multiple subtests, which can be taken all in one seating or individually. All science teachers need to pass subtests I and II, which cover general science, as well as one of the subtest III exams. Choose the subtest III concentration you intend to teach: biology/life science, chemistry, earth and planetary science, or physics. You may take more than one subtest III if you would like to teach more than one science subject. By passing subtests I, II, and III, you are credentialed to teach General Science, Integrated Science and the concentration covered by subtest III.
Option Two:
You may take and pass subtests III and IV in the concentration you intend to teach: biology/life science, chemistry, earth and planetary science, or physics. By passing subtests III and IV, you are only credentialed to teach in the concentration you tested in, NOT General or Integrated Science. You will receive a Specialized Science Credential. Please keep this in mind, as this type of credential limits the number of science teaching openings you will be eligible for.
Please visit the official CSET site for more information.
Do I need to be a math major to teach math?
No. You need only demonstrate math proficiency by taking the CSET Math exam. The exam is comprised of three subtests, which can be taken all in one seating or individually. In order to teach Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry or Integrated Mathematics you need to pass subtests I and II. This qualifies you for a Foundational-Math Credential. In order to teach Calculus, you need to pass subtest III to obtain a Mathematics Credential. For more information, please visit the Math CSET site.
What is Pre-Service?
Pre-service is 120 hours of critical preparation for classroom teaching. Classes are conducted by a University or District Intern credentialing course provider and are focused on intensive instruction and field experience in teaching methodology. Topics covered include:
• classroom management and planning
• developmentally appropriate teaching practices
• general and subject or specialty specific pedagogy
• teaching English learners
• communication skills including reading
Where in California are EnCorps teachers placed?
While we support teacher candidates throughout the state of California, EnCorps has two focus sites in 2009, the San Francisco Bay Area and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. EnCorps teachers are placed in high-need schools in low-income communities. We work with traditional public and charter schools that are dedicated to improving education for their students and supporting the development of new teachers.
Will I be able to choose my school?
Once accepted into the EnCorps program, you will be referred to one or more of the partner and affiliate schools we work with for interviews. Referrals are based upon your geographic location, the subject you would like to teach and the needs of the schools we work with. The ultimate decision to hire a teacher lies with the school principal and school district.
May I defer my acceptance?
EnCorps encourages you to get experience in the classroom and consider tutoring, volunteering or substitute teaching with us before becoming a full time teacher. At the same time, once you accept an offer and commit to teaching in a given year, EnCorps counsels against deferral and reviews requests on a case by case basis. Should you defer your acceptance to the EnCorps program, you will need to contact EnCorps in February of 2010 to secure a teaching position for the following year.
Where do I send my transcripts?
Please send all transcripts to:
EnCorps
Attn: Undergraduate/Graduate Transcripts
323 Geary Street, Suite 418
San Francisco, CA 94102