Program Overview

The Philadelphia Teaching Fellows (PTF) is an alternate route teacher certification program and we recruit, select, train and place outstanding mid-career changers and recent college graduates from diverse backgrounds and experiences who are interested in joining the movement to bring teaching excellence to new heights in the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) by teaching critical needs subject areas in high need schools.  This is a unique opportunity to be a catalyst for students' success as an educator and a role model.  The PTF operates on two admission cycles during the year. Our Mid-year Program starts in January, and our Summer Program starts in June.

Whether you are a Fellow in the summer or the mid-year program, you will be trained at an intensive Training Institute where you will become part of a powerful support network of diverse, but like-minded, individuals working to ensure student achievement in our classrooms. During training, Fellows will be instructed in the foundations of teaching grounded in a research-based curriculum proven to be effective with urban, high-need students. Upon successful completion of the Training Institute, Fellows will assume full-time teaching responsibilities in School District of Philadelphia classrooms and receive a full salary.

Once in the classroom, Fellows have three years to complete their teacher certification coursework and earn their Instructional Level I through one of our five university partners.

The PTF offers Fellows a unique opportunity to be a catalyst for our students' success as an educator and a role model in the School District of Philadelphia.