Overview of Key Differences

Teacher residencies are intensive programs that combine practical teaching experience with academic coursework to prepare you to become an effective teacher. While all teacher residencies aim to produce competent and skilled educators, they differ in their focuses, durations and their financial arrangements. Here are some key differences in focus between different teacher residencies:

1. Focus on Filling High-Need Teaching Positions vs. Focus on Addressing Educational Equity:

Some teacher residencies prioritize addressing teacher shortages and training new teachers. These programs aim to attract motivated individuals into the teaching profession by providing them with high-quality training and support, and they are often run by or fully funded by school districts or charter school networks. These programs may not have a specific focus on educational equity, even though they definitely are working toward that indirectly. Since teacher shortages are more common in schools serving students with economic disadvantages, programs that are mainly focused on filling gaps in a school network or a district are indeed ultimately positively contributing to the goals of educational equity.

Other teacher residencies, on the other hand, have a more explicit focus on educational equity and addressing the opportunity gaps that students face. These programs aim to prepare teachers who are committed to working in schools that serve historically disadvantaged students, such as low-income students, students of color, and students with special needs. These programs emphasize the importance of culturally responsive teaching, asset-based pedagogy, and community engagement. They also measure their success not simply by the number of teachers trained but also by the effectiveness of those teachers and their placement and retention in high-need schools.

2. Nonprofit-run, district-run, or university-run:

Teacher residencies are typically run by nonprofit organizations, schools, or universities. Nonprofit residencies are typically independent organizations that receive funding from a variety of sources, including private foundations, individual donors, government grants, and partner schools/districts. These programs are often a bit more focused on measurable results and the effectiveness of the teachers they train because funders need to know that the teachers trained are indeed making a difference in the city they server. They may have more flexibility to innovate and design their own curriculum and clinical experiences, and they are often focused on educational equity as explained above. Typically these residencies require a commitment to teach a certain number of years after completion of the residency. These programs are typically generous in financial arrangements with residents and also typically offer the most intensive post-residency support once teachers have a classroom of their own because they must show that 2-3 years into their teaching career their graduates are effective.

District-run or school-run residencies are typically run by school districts or charter school networks. These programs are designed to provide a pipeline of new teachers for the district or network. School-based residencies often have greater alignment with the district's priorities and initiatives, and they therefore require a commitment to teach a certain number of years in the district or charter network. Typically these programs will have at least some focus on filling high-need subject areas in the district as districts are most willing to fund a program they see as solving challenges they have ensuring every teaching position is filled. Some district-run programs will only offer certification in the subject areas and grade levels that they have historically had the most trouble filling: things like foreign language, ESL, special education, and secondary math/science. These programs are typically generous in financial arrangements with residents and sometimes will even have residents paid at a teaching assistant salary during the residency year instead of a lower stipend. While some programs will offer specific support for residency graduates, many others will simply delegate this support to the new teacher induction department which may leave some graduates feeling a disconnect between their training and their instructional coaching during the first bit of their career.

University-run residencies are offered as part of a university's education department. These are typically similar to traditional undergraduate teacher prep programs with the exception of being graduate programs and including a full year of clinical experience instead of 14-16 weeks of student teaching. Given that these programs are run by universities, they may focus more on pedagogical theory and may be less fine-tuned to the school contexts in which teachers train. Tuition and living expenses at these programs are typically covered by student loans using the traditional federal financial aid program instead of stipends or tuition assistance. This does mean that most will not require a teaching commitment, and in that case graduates are free to teach anywhere upon graduation. In some cases university-run residencies are a simple rebranding of an existing graduate teacher prep track, and they may not have the full program fidelity typical of the teacher residency movement. Others are indeed brand new programs within the university that fully embrace the teacher residency model.

3. Financial incentives and arrangements:

Teacher residencies vary in their financial incentives and arrangements. Some programs are cost-free for residents, but they require a commitment to teach a certain number of years in a district or a defined list of schools after completion of the residency year. These programs typically provide a stipend or salary during the residency year, and some also cover some or all of tuition and fees.

Other programs involve residents taking out loans to cover the cost of their training, similar to education loans for any program of study. These programs may offer scholarships or grants to cover a portion of the cost, but residents will still have to take out loans to cover the remaining balance. There are several loan forgiveness programs that may help with the repayment of loans, but research is required to determine eligibility. These programs may also offer a salary or stipend during the residency year, but typically that will come from the school or district instead of from the university.

In conclusion, teacher residencies vary in their focus, structure, and financial arrangements. When choosing a teacher residency program, it is important to consider the program's focus, the population it serves, and the financial commitment required. Prospective teachers should also consider the quality of the coursework and clinical experiences, as well as the support and mentoring provided during and after the residency year.