Eligibility

Saint Paul Teaching Fellows is a highly selective alternative route to teaching program designed for outstanding individuals dedicated to impacting student achievement in Saint Paul’s high-need classrooms. To apply, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements. No previous coursework in education or teaching experience is required.  

• You must possess a bachelor’s degree
  (conferred by June 2008)
• Your undergraduate GPA must be 2.75 or higher.
• You must meet testing requirements for your subject area (math, science, bilingual elementary education or special education).
• You cannot be a current district or fully licensed teacher. You cannot have completed an education licensure program, or completed significant coursework in an education licensure program (i.e., anticipated graduation prior to May 2008).
• You must be eligible to work in the United States.   

You must possess a bachelor’s degree.
Those who hold a bachelor’s degree or who are currently completing their bachelor’s degree coursework from an accredited university and expect to have the degree awarded no later than June 2008 are eligible to apply. Please note that a bachelor's degree is a requirement for licensure.

Graduates of foreign universities must have their transcripts evaluated by an approved agency (see list below). When requesting an evaluation, be sure that the agency specifically states that you have received the U.S. equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in your subject area AND provides a full listing of your coursework. Applications that include foreign transcripts will not be reviewed until the completed evaluation has been faxed or mailed to the Fellows office.

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
Educational Credential Evaluators
International Education Research Foundation
World Education Services

Your undergraduate GPA must be 2.75 or higher.
Individuals must possess a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher. 

You must meet testing requirements for your subject area.
Saint Paul Teaching Fellows is working with the Minnesota Department of Education to define our eligibility requirements. All of the requirements listed below are tentative. We will update this website and contact those who apply if the eligibility requirements change.

Candidates must meet testing requirements according to state, district, and licensure program guidelines for the subject they wish to teach before they begin teaching. Fellows will teach in math, science, bilingual elementary education and special education classrooms—the greatest areas of need in the district.

Fellows are responsible for registering for, studying for and passing the Praxis I (a general content knowledge exam), Praxis II Subject Assessment (a subject area-specific exam), and Praxis II: Principles of Learning & Teaching exam. Enrollment in the Teaching Fellows program is contingent upon passage of these required tests, and passing scores must be on file with the Fellows office before the start of the Training Institute. We strongly recommend that all candidates register now for the Praxis I exam. Candidates should wait to register for the Praxis II exams until they have submitted their online application and have received specific, individualized direction on the appropriate Praxis II Subject Assessment and Praxis II: Principles of Learning & Teaching exam from the Fellows program office. Review the Testing Requirements section of this website for details on how to register and prepare. 

Although no specific coursework or credit hours are typically required to be eligible to apply to teach math or science, candidates interested in teaching math or science must have strong content knowledge in order to be prepared to take and pass the required Praxis II Subject Assessment. Typically, candidates interested in teaching math or science will have significant relevant coursework (e.g., at least 15 credits) or significant relevant professional experience (e.g., a career in engineering). Candidates interested in teaching special education or bilingual elementary education must have a bachelor’s degree and must be prepared to take and pass the required Praxis II Subject Assessments.

Subject Area- Specific Coursework & Testing Requirements
Saint Paul Teaching Fellows is working with the Minnesota Department of Education to define our eligibility requirements. All of the requirements listed are tentative. We will update this website and contact those who apply if the eligibility requirements change.

Candidates Invited to Interview for a Position Teaching	Must Meet the Following Coursework Requirements	Must Meet the Following Testing Requirements*
Math (grades 7-12)	Strong mathematics content knowledge	Praxis I (all three sections) Appropriate Praxis II (e.g.,mathematics)  Praxis II: Principles of Learning & Teaching
Science (grades 7-12)	Strong science content knowledge (e.g., physics, chemistry, life science)	Praxis I (all three sections) Appropriate Praxis II (e.g., chemistry, physics, or life science) Praxis II: Principles of Learning & Teaching
Spanish and English Bilingual Elementary Education (grades K-6)	No specific coursework required Fluency in English and Spanish	Praxis I (all three sections) Appropriate Praxis II (e.g., elementary education) Praxis II: Principles of Learning & Teaching
Hmong and English Bilingual Elementary Education (grades K-6)	No specific coursework required Fluency in English and Hmong	Praxis I (all three sections) Appropriate Praxis II (e.g., elementary education) Praxis II: Principles of Learning & Teaching
Special Education (grades K-12)	No specific coursework required	Praxis I (all three sections) Appropriate Praxis II (e.g., education of exceptional students)** Praxis II: Principles of Learning & Teaching

* Detailed information on the Praxis II will be provided to candidates invited to interview with the Fellows program. Note that all candidates must take and pass the Praxis I, Praxis II Subject Assessment, and Praxis II Principles of Learning & Teaching exams.

** Note that special education candidates may need to take an additional Praxis II Subject Assessment. More guidance will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

You cannot be a current district or fully licensed teacher. You cannot have completed an education licensure program, or completed significant coursework in an education licensure program (i.e., anticipated graduation prior to May 2008).
Current district teachers, as well as teachers already in possession of their teaching license or certification from Minnesota or any other state, are not eligible for the Fellows program. Individuals who have already completed a teacher preparation/licensure program or who have completed significant coursework in an education licensure program are not eligible for the Fellows program. However, individuals who are enrolled in an education licensure program but whose anticipated graduation date is May 2008 or later may still apply. For more information about teaching positions for candidates who already hold their license, please refer to the Saint Paul Public Schools website.

You must be eligible to work in the United States.
Applicants must present proof of legal work status in order to become employees of Saint Paul Public Schools. We are not able to provide sponsorship through Saint Paul Teaching Fellows or the district.

Please keep these eligibility requirements in mind when stating your subject area preferences on your online application. Before final acceptance into the program, candidates must submit official transcripts so that course credits and GPA may be verified. (Please visit Apply Now page for more detail.) These requirements are non-negotiable.

With careful review of these eligibility requirements, Teaching Fellows candidates will benefit from a streamlined application and selection process and, if selected, will have the opportunity to participate in an intensive Training Institute this summer before embarking on a new career in education.

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