The Intern Certificate allows Fellows to learn as they work and to apply the lessons of their day-to-day classroom experiences to their studies. The Philadelphia Teaching Fellows program has established partnerships with several certification institutions that align with the requirements and structures of the Teaching Fellows program and the needs of full-time SDP teachers. Those partners include*:

• Arcadia University
• Drexel University
• Chestnut Hill College
• Eastern University
• Holy Family University

All Fellows will have a unique opportunity to take required graduate-level coursework at one of our partner colleges/universities. According our university partner choice model, Fellows will have the opportunity to choose the certification program that best fits their personal needs. In order to be enrolled in the Fellows program and to be granted the Intern Certificate, candidates will need to fulfill all university application requirements - including successful completion of the Praxis exams.

There are several certification funding opportunities** available to our Fellows who qualify, including:

• Arcadia University: All special education, math, science, or English Teaching Fellows will receive a special discounted tuition rate. Fellows at Arcadia will be charged a $1,140 flat rate for each 3 credit course taken for the certification program.

• Drexel University: All math, science, and bilingual education Teaching Fellows (this does not include special education math or special education science) will receive full tuition funding for graduate certification coursework as part of the Transition to Teaching program. Additional content course may be required upon transcript review dependent on the Teaching Fellow's previous degree requirements. Any needed content course may be taken from any accredited college/university and would be taken at the Teaching Fellow's expense.
  
  

• Chestnut Hill College: Beginning with the Summer 2008 cohort (non-grant participants) and all PTF fellows accepted in the Fall of 2008 (including special education (with an accompanying content area) , math, science, or English Teaching Fellows will receive a special discounted tuition rate. Fellows at Chestnut Hill College will be charged $1,000 flat rate for each 3 credit course taken. Please contact Dr. Carol Pate at cmpate@chc.edu for the latest information regarding this new discount.  
  
• Eastern University : Beginning with the Summer 2008 cohort all PTF fellows accepted in the Fall of 2008 (including special education (with an accompanying content area) , math or English Teaching Fellows will receive a special discounted tuition rate. Fellows at Eastern will be charged $1,215 flat rate for each 3 credit course taken.
  
• Holy Family University : Beginning with the Summer 2008 cohort all PTF fellows accepted in the Fall of 2008 (including special education (with an accompanying content area) , math, science, or English Teaching Fellows will receive a special discounted tuition rate. Fellows at Holy Family University will be charged $1,000 flat rate for each 3 credit course taken.
  
• An AmeriCorps Education Award worth $4,725**** (see below for more details).

Each of these universities offering full funding for certification coursework for eligible Fellows require at least a two-year commitment to teach in the School District of Philadelphia as a stipulation for receiving the grant.

Fellows are responsible for prompt payment of all tuition and fees.  The universities with which we partner have agreed to offer discounted tuition rates for Fellows as listed above***. The number of required credits varies based on subject area and previous coursework. 

Continuous enrollment in the University program is a requirement for the Intern Certificate and participation in the Philadelphia Teaching Fellows program.

Fellows may also have the opportunity to earn a masters degree in addition to the Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate.

Candidates will receive more information about the University program and the requirements once they are accepted into the Fellows program.

* University partner relationships are subject to change based on the needs of our program and the universities that we work with. 

** These funding opportunities are subject to change based on the renewal or continuation of the grants received by our university partners at the federal and state levels.

*** Tuition rates may increase slightly for the 2009 school year.

Any changes to university partners, funding of certification coursework through grants, and tuition rates will be promptly updated on our website.

**** Most first year Fellows will benefit from the Teaching Fellows AmeriCorps Education Awards Program. All fellows are responsible for covering the costs of certification course requirements. However, participation in the Philadelphia Teaching Fellows makes most first year Fellows eligible to apply to enroll in the AmeriCorps Education Awards program to earn an education award worth $4,725. This award is valid for seven years after issuance and can be used to pay for certification or future education costs including repaying qualified student loans.

In order to be eligible to receive the award, Fellows must meet all AmeriCorps eligibility criteria, enroll in the AmeriCorps Education Awards program, and remain active as a Fellow in the district for the entire school year -- meeting AmeriCorps service requirements. The service will include teaching your classes, creating lesson plans, correcting homework, planning projects for your students, reaching out to parents and guardians, and managing all other aspects of a teacher's job, including professional development and certification courses. Your service hours may also be spent participating in school committees, student clubs, after-school tutoring, and the recruitment and management of volunteers in your classroom or school. We are confident that first year Fellows who enroll in the AmeriCorps Education Awards program and who teach for their entire first school year will fulfill the service requirement for this award through the day-to-day work required of all new teachers.

More detailed information on enrollment in the Teaching Fellows AmeriCorps Education Awards Program will be provided to Fellows upon enrollment in the program and during summer Institute.