Finances and Testing

Overview of Tuition and Finances

It’s now possible to become a teacher debt free! The Marshall Teacher Residency’s approach to finances allows you to pursue your passion for teaching and focus on your own learning. Residents benefit from an affordable tuition, a monthly living stipend, and unprecedented grant opportunities from the state of California. Learn more about resident benefits here.

Below is an overview of our tuition and finance structure:

  • Tuition = $20,000
  • Stipend = $20,000–$28,500
  • Required credentialing fees = $200-500
  • Financial aid options for up to $20,000 toward program tuition

Financial Aid Opportunities

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    Base Stipend

    All Residents receive a $20,000 stipend for the year to support you with engaging as a learner full-time. The stipend is paid in monthly installments to you for living and personal expenses. You can choose how to spend the stipend at your discretion. We do not take taxes out of your stipend; however, if you use the stipend for living expenses, you will need to report it as taxable income. You must be in good standing with the program in order to receive your stipend.

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    Additional Stipend for Eligible Residents

    You may be eligible for an additional living stipend of $8,500, increasing your total stipend to $28,500. In exchange for the increased stipend, you must commit to teach in an eligible Marshall Teacher Residency partner school for at least four school years upon completion of the residency program.

    In addition, some partner schools provide additional living stipends for Residents placed at their schools, often in exchange for a commitment to teach full time for a number of years following the residency program.

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    Tuition Grant Opportunities

    All Residents are eligible for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program to cover up to the full cost of tuition. The Golden State Teacher Grant Program is for students currently enrolled in a teacher preparation program to earn a credential who commit to teach at a priority school, in California for four years, within eight years after completing a teacher preparation program. You can use your teaching years of service to meet the eligibility for both the Golden State Teacher Grant and the additional stipend simultaneously.

Additional Expenses

As a Resident, you should also plan to spend $200-500 in fees prior to the start of the program and in the first month of the program. These include fees for required credentialing exams (CSET and CBEST), fingerprinting and background checks, a TB test, official transcripts, and other admissions and credentialing requirements. Additional fees may be incurred if you need to take any exams multiple times.

To support you in planning ahead for your finances during the residency year, we have compiled a list of the expenses you can anticipate, including information about which expenses the Marshall Teacher Residency will cover for you.

Black Educators Initiative Grant Opportunities

Marshall Teacher Residency received grant funding in 2023-24 to support innovative efforts to recruit, prepare, and retain Black educators.  The goal of the Black Educators Initiative is to reduce historical and enduring barriers to entry for aspiring Black educators, while also offering a high bar for quality through community-based clinical preparation.  Marshall Teacher Residency has committed to using BEI funds to increase stipends to support eligible Residents with living expenses and relocation costs.  If we receive additional funding, we will continue to offer these financial aid opportunities for eligible Residents in upcoming years.

Supporting Black Educators

Daisha Fitzgerald

2023-24 Multiple Subject Resident

“The goal of retaining Black educators while reducing barriers for aspiring Black educators aligns with my intent on becoming a teacher because I feel it is important to have adequate representation in the classroom so that children can connect to those in leadership positions. I plan on using my life experiences, knowledge, and background to help me reach all my students, especially those who share the same adversities of poverty, single-parent households, and everyday challenges of being a youth of color. The BEI grant fund alleviates some financial strains and strengthens my path to staying in the field of education. I can shift my focus away from having to stress about income and be able to enjoy connecting with the children that I plan on serving.”

Testing Requirements

The state of California requires all teacher candidates to meet the following requirements in order to earn a credential — Basic Skills Requirement and Subject Matter Requirement.

In order to enroll with the Marshall Teacher Residency, you will need to show evidence of meeting or making progress towards each of these requirements. Legislation passed in July 2021 allows additional flexibility for candidates to waive out of the Basic Skills and Subject Matter requirements. We will work with you in the application process to determine if you are eligible to waive these requirements based on past test scores and college coursework.

  • The Basic Skills Requirement assesses basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills found to be important for the job of an educator. Candidates can meet or waive the Basic Skills Requirement by:

    • Providing an official transcript showing courses at a regionally accredited college or university in the areas of Reading, Writing, and/or Mathematics that earned a B- or better and 3 semester or 4 quarter units
    • Providing official score reports showing eligible SAT, ACT, AP, EPT, ELM, or EAP scores
    • Passing the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) or the CSET: Multiple Subjects Plus Writing Skills Examination.
  • The Subject Matter Requirement demonstrates evidence of discipline-specific understanding in the content area of your credential. Candidates can meet the Subject Matter Requirement by:

    • Passing the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) exam in your subject area
    • Providing documentation of having completed a Commission-approved subject matter preparation program in your subject area
    • Providing an official transcript showing a college major that is an exact match of your credential area (i.e. English major and English credential) or a Liberal Studies major for Multiple Subjects and Education Specialist credentials
    • Providing an official transcript showing college coursework that meets or exceeds the domains of the subject matter requirement for your credential area.  Please note that the Marshall Teacher Residency faculty will need to evaluate your coursework to determine if you can waive part or all of the subject matter requirement using college coursework.

Questions?

We encourage all interested applicants to join our mailing list to stay on top of program tips, deadlines, and information. Please also feel free to email us with any questions, including how we can help you make the best choice for your career next step, at residency@summitps.org.