Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Teacher in Residence Program?
Teacher in Residence Programs are alternative licensure programs approved by the state of Colorado to provide training and support to nontraditional teachers as they enter the classroom. Resident teachers work towards earning a Professional Colorado Teaching License and a salary concurrently during the course of the two year program.
2. What is a Designated Agency?
Partner school districts which have submitted the program to the Colorado Department of Education for approval are considered the Designated Agency for the Southern Colorado Teacher in Residence Program. The Designated Agencies for the SCTiRP are Pueblo City Schools and Pueblo District 70. While employment with one of these districts is not required, the school of employment must be approved and umbrellaed by one of these Designated Agencies.
3. What are the differences between two year programs and one year alternative licensure programs?
The rigor of the SCTiRP two year program earns graduate credit and offers candidates significant training and coursework tied to work in the classroom. Additionally, at the end of the SCTiRP candidates may qualify for a Professional License rather than an Initial License, should the candidate comple their district's Induction program during the two years. Side by Side Comparison of TiR and Alternative Licensure Programs.
4. My teaching license is from another state, in a different content area, or is expired. Do I qualify for the Southern Colorado Teacher in Residence Program?
No. The SCTiRP is only for candidates who have not completed a traditional or alternative program in Colorado or any other state. If you are coming from another state please contact CDE for more information.
5. Does the Southern Colorado Teacher in Residency Program grant a degree?
No. The SCTiRP is a licensure program. It is a step towards earning a Master of Education, if you desire to pursue an advanced degree after the completion of the program. Resident teachers received 30+ hours of graduate credit over the two year program.
6. How long does the SCTiRP take to complete?
Two years. SCTIRP is authorized as a two-year alternative program.
7. Can I get an extension to finish the program?
No. The state requires that the program be completed in its entirety in two years.
8. What is the coursework for the program?
Content area endorsements take 30 hours of graduate credit through the course of the program. Special Education, Linguistically Diverse and Elementary Education complete between 33-39 graduate credits for program completion. All candidates complete field experience course each of the four semesters they teach. Candidates will typically attend class one night a week.
9. What support will I have during the program?
Resident teachers are provided with at least 200 hours of support by coaches and mentors from both their school and the university. Resident teachers are guided to meet Performance Based Standards for Colorado Teachers by the end of the program.
10. When does the program start?
Once you are academically qualified and/or pass the PLACE or PRAXIS II exam, pass a background check, and received a contract for full time employment at a school with approved curriculum, you may formally apply to the SCTiRP. Cohorts are accepted each semester according to CDE deadlines.
11. Do I have to attend class in the summer?
Yes. In order to complete the required coursework within the two years of the program all resident teachers must complete classes during the summer semester. The coursework is specific to each endorsement area.
12. When are classes held?
Classes are held on varying days and times. All fall and spring semester classes are held in the evening to accommodate the full time teaching of all candidates.
13. Where are classes held?
All classes are held on campus at CSU- Pueblo. Some courses may be available at the Continuing Education Citadel Campus in Colorado Springs.
Currently, CSU-Pueblo offers some distance or hybrid courses.
14. Can I take classes without being in the program?
Yes. Once you have talked to the SCTiRP office, you may enroll in some of the education classes required by the program prior to formal admittance. You may only take these classes if you are able to complete the required field experience. Taking these courses prior to entering the program will make your transition into the classroom easier and ease your workload during the program. However, completing coursework before entering the program will not decrease the length of the SCTiRP.
15. What qualifications do I need to enter the program?
To enter the program you must: 1. Meet Colorado Content Requirements by passing the PLACE or PRAXIS II exam and/or meeting content area coursework expectations; 2. Pass Fingerprinting and Background Check;3. Apply for and receive a Statement of Eligibility (SOE) from CDE; 4. Obtain Full Time Contract Teaching Employment (at least 51% in area of endorsement)
16. Do I have to complete all the content requirements before entering the program? Do I have to pass the PLACE or PRAXIS II content exam before entering the program?
Yes. In order to formally enter the program, you must complete all satisfactorily content coursework and provide the SCTiRP with official transcripts. You must provide your passing PLACE or PRAXIS II exam scores. Work with the SCTiRP office to begin the process as soon as possible.
17. How do I apply to the Teacher in Residence Program?
Once you are qualified to enter the program, contact the SCTiRP office to formally apply to the program.
18. Do I have to take the GRE?
No. You are not required to take the Graduate Record Examination to enter the SCTiRP.
19. I am not a citizen. Can I still enter the program?
Yes. As long as you are a permanent resident or lawfully present in the United States pursuant to Federal Law you are eligible for the program.
20. What are the endorsements the Southern Colorado Teacher in Residence Program approved by the Colorado Department of Education to offer?
The SCTiRP is approved by CDE for Linguistically Diverse Education (English as a Second Language), Mathematics, Science, Special Education, Elementary Education, Art, Drama , Instructional Technology (Computers), Music, Physical Education, World Language- French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish, Business, Business/Marketing, English, Marketing, Social Studies, Speech.
21. How do I get my transcripts reviewed?
Contact the SCTiRP office to begin the process of determining eligibility. The first step in this process will be to review you transcripts to determine if you have sufficient coursework.
22. Do I have to have a degree in the area I want endorsement?
No. You must however meet the state content standards of 24 semester hours of specific coursework and/or pass the content area exam to be considered competent in your content.
23. Can I teach any subject?
No. Colorado requires that all teachers demonstrate subject matter competency in the content they teach. You must have 24 specific semester hours in your endorsement area and/or pass a state content area exam. The state SOE will be granted specific to each area you wish to teach. You will need a separate SOE to job search in different areas of teaching.
24. Do I have to take coursework to be eligible at CSU- Pueblo? Where can I take additional coursework?
You can take coursework necessary to be eligible at any accredited institution as long as it is a college level course.
25. Is there a way to qualify for the program if my GPA is below 2.6?
You must take additional coursework to raise your Cumulative GPA. Grade Point Average= quality points/ quality hours. Contact the SCTiRP if you need assistance.
26. Are all my transcripts required? Why?
Yes. All transcripts are required for program eligibility. Initially all transcripts are needed to determine if you have sufficient content for your endorsement. Transfer credits are often not listed individually. All classes must be considered from the issuing institution. Once you are eligible and formally apply to the program, official transcripts must be filed with the SCTiRP office and CSU- Pueblo admissions.
These are in addition to any transcripts that are necessary to provide to the state to obtain an SOE or to givie to your hiring scholl district.
27. Do I qualify for the SCTiRP if I did not attend college in Colorado?
Yes. As long as the institution you attended is regionally accredited you are eligible for the program.
28. What is regionally accredited institution of higher education? Which accreditation bodies does Colorado accept?
Regionally accredited institutions meet academic standards set by the accrediting agency.
CDE accepts accreditation from:
MSA - Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
NWCCU - The Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities
NCA - North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
NEASC-CIHE - New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission of Institutions of Higher Education
SACS - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/ Commission on Colleges
WASC-Sr - Western Association of Schools and Colleges/ Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
29. I did not attend college in the United States. Do I still qualify for the SCTiRP?
Yes. If you attended an accredited college or university anywhere in the United States or Canada (if in English) the SCTiRP can evaluate your transcripts. If you attended an institution outside of the US or Canada, you will need to work directly with an acceptable accreditation agency before we can evaluate your transcripts. You must request a course by course evaluation. You may go through World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, or National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
30. When do I complete fingerprinting and background check? How do I do this?
As soon as possible. You must submit to fingerprinting and a criminal background check through CBI before you may enter the program. Official CDE fingerprint cards can be obtained through the SCTiRP office or the state. Fingerprints must be taken by a qualified law enforcement agency.
31. I have already submitted to a background check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Do I have to do this again?
Maybe. If you submitted fingerprints for a current substitute license, you do not need to resubmit a fingerprint card and processing fee. If you have not submitted a fingerprint card to CDE, unused by another agency, then you will have to complete this process.
32. How do I sign up for the PLACE or PRAXIS II?
Registration for both the PLACE and PRAXIS II is available online. You may take the test whenever you would like at any test site. Please request that the results be sent to the Colorado Department of Education and Colorado State University- Pueblo.
33. What if I fail the PLACE or PRAXIS II?
You are allowed to take the PLACE or PRAXIS II exam as many times as necessary to pass.
34. Do I have to teach in a specific school district?
No. You can teach in any school district in Colorado as long as the district is willing to meet its obligations with the program and you are able to attend classes.
35. Can I teach at a charter or private school?
Yes. You may teach at any school that has submitted to a curriculum review and been approved.
36. Can I teach part time and still be in the program?
No. The program requires that you be employed full time at a school with an approved curriculum. If you work full time but only teach 51% of the time in the area you are seeking endorsement, you may still qualify for the program.
37. Can I teach in another state?
No. During the course of the program you must have full time contract employment in a school with approved curriculum in the state of Colorado. Once you have satisfactorily completed the program, you will receive a Professional Colorado Teaching License in your endorsement area. If you choose to move to another state, check with the State Department of Education for each state to determine reciprocity.
38. When are resident teachers hired?
Typically resident teachers are hired after the pool of professionally and provisionally licensed teachers has been exhausted. The most common period is June- September, but candidates are hired throughout the year.
39. Will I get paid to teach? How much will I get paid?
Yes. You will receive the same compensation as any other first year teacher in the district or school you are employed. Each school district has its own salary schedule which will determine how much you are paid. This information can be requested by individual school districts.
40. What assistance does the program offer in finding a position?
The program does not offer job placement. Resident Teachers are hired as the teacher of record and must complete the school’s human resources process. The Partner District Teacher Candidate Database is a useful tool to help candidates secure employment. Many districts post available positions on their websites.
41. Is it required to enter the database?
The information requested on the database is required for the program. While it is not required to enter into the database, it is secure and information will not be voluntarily provided to anyone outside the SCTiRP office or partner schools. Candidates may determine if they want their profile to be active or not.
42. What are Colorado Content Standards?
The Colorado K-12 Academic Standards are the specific academic expectations of education in each content area for each grade level in Colorado.
43. What are Colorado Performance Based Standards?
The Performance Based Standards for Colorado Teachers are the criteria for licensure which all teacher education candidates which all beginning teachers are required to demonstrate.
44. What is the cost of the Southern Colorado Teacher in Residency Program? Does tuition depend on Colorado residency?
The cost of program is based on CSU- Pueblo tuition fees. The policies for tuition and residency are consistent with CSU- Pueblo policies.
45. What options do I have to pay for the program?
Depending on school and endorsement, stipends and grants may be available to offset the cost of the program. Resident teachers may eligible to apply for traditional student aid as well. Tuition is paid at the beginning of each semester.
46. I am a veteran. Can I use my VA loan for the program?
Yes. See the Veterans Benefits Office or Troops to Teachers for more information.
