FAQs

Cohort 24 begins in July 2026 and ends in June 2027.

• The master’s degree portion takes one year.
• Boston Teacher Residency (BTR) is a four-year commitment — after the residency year, graduates receive three years of induction support (coaching and professional development) while teaching in Boston Public Schools (BPS).

• Summer (July–August): Graduate coursework, Monday–Friday, typically 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
• School Year (September–June):
  • Monday–Thursday: School-based all day
  • One evening per week: 3-hour content methods course
  • Friday: Graduate coursework, typically 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

BTR observes all BPS holidays.

From the start of the residency year, BTR’s Director of Alumni Engagement and Placement works to:

• Align placements with BPS projected hiring needs
• Connect residents with principals and school hiring teams
• Support residents’ participation in BPS recruitment events

At BTR, we’re looking for passionate, curious, and committed people who want to make a lasting impact in Boston classrooms.

You don’t need to have teaching experience, but you do need to have

• Belief in Students – You see the brilliance in every child and hold high expectations for their success.
• Commitment to Boston – You’re ready to root your teaching career in Boston and bring experiences that connect you to our communities.
• Growth & Adaptability – You embrace feedback, learn from challenges, and thrive as part of a team.
• Passion for Teaching & Content – You love your subject and are excited to spark that same joy and curiosity in students.

View our Disability Accommodation Policy.

We place residents in grades 1–12 in:

• Computer Science (6–12)
• Elementary Education (grades 1–5)
• English (6–12)
• Mathematics (6–12)
• Science: Biology (9–12), Chemistry (9–12), General Science (6–8), Physics (9–12)

You’ll serve in a BPE Teaching Academy or one of our partner BPS schools.

Yes, BTR is a four-year commitment, with one residency year followed by teaching in BPS for at least three years after graduation. Many graduates remain in BPS long-term and take on leadership roles.

Each resident works alongside an experienced Collaborating Teacher (CT) in a collaborative mentoring environment. Together, you will:

• Plan lessons and instructional strategies
• Teach collaboratively
• Analyze student data and adjust instruction
• Engage in a continuous cycle of improvement
• Serve as a member of a team

All members of the school community come together around a standard set of instructional principles and practices focused on student learning, which then provide the foundation and framework for Residents’ learning.

You’ll earn a Master’s in Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston (College of Education and Human Development).

• BTR hires its own faculty and tailors coursework to Boston classrooms.
• Classes are taught at BPE offices or host schools (not on UMass Boston’s campus).
• As a UMass Boston student, you’ll have full access to university resources.

Most courses are held at BPE offices or host schools.

Yes. All residents complete the state-required Rethinking Equity and Teaching for English Language Learners (RETELL) course and receive SEI endorsement if all requirements are met. SEI is required for Initial licensure.

No. SEI/RETELL is required for licensure. You must complete it to graduate.

No, but our network of residents and graduates can offer advice on housing and transportation.

No, but we encourage you to take and submit MTEL scores for your content area before applying. You must report any previous scores in the application.

To be eligible for the 2026–27 program year and receive AmeriCorps benefits, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident
• Hold (or expect to hold) a bachelor’s degree by July 1, 2026

You may also apply if you have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in an eligible category that does not require employer sponsorship. You are not eligible to apply if you are in the United States with a student visa, exchange visa, work visa, or tourist visa. Please note that if you are not a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident, you are not eligible for the AmeriCorps benefits.

1. Complete the brief contact info form
   
2. You’ll be redirected to the BTR Cohort 24 application.
3. Bookmark the application link for easy access.

1. Submit a complete online application by the November 13th deadline, including:
   • Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
   • Two professional or academic recommendations
2. Complete the virtual content assessment(s) by November 21st (you’ll receive instructions after the application deadline). If you’ve passed the subject MTEL for your content area, the content assessment will be waived.
3. Attend Selection Day* the week of December 8th if invited (exact date TBD):
   • In-person in Boston, MA
   • Includes a mini-lesson, group activity, and interview
4. Receive your decision by December 19th. 

*Finalists are expected to attend the in-person Selection Day in Boston. 

• Priority deadline: November 13, 2025 (11:59 p.m. EST)
• Notification to move forward: By November 25, 2025
• Selection Days: Finalists participate in a selection day tentatively scheduled for Monday, December 15th, 2025 8 am – 3 pm EST
• Final decisions: By December 19, 2025

The next application deadline will be in mid-February.

• Completed online application
• Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
• Two professional or academic recommendations

Yes — licensed teachers are welcome to apply.

Yes. If accepted to BTR, you must complete the UMass Boston graduate admissions process, which includes:

• Application
• Application fee
• Tuition deposit
• Official transcript

Yes. Applying by the priority deadline increases your chance of being considered before spots fill.

Are deadlines strict?
Yes. Applications are only reviewed if all required materials, including transcripts, are received by the deadline.

Choose people who know your work well and can speak to your:

• Ability to excel in a rigorous graduate program
• Potential as an effective educator
• Collaboration skills

• Upload scanned or photographed copies (official or unofficial) to the online application. BTR requires that applicants provide electronic transcripts for all postsecondary credit-bearing coursework, including undergraduate, graduate, study abroad, transfer, and non-degree courses. Please ensure all transcripts include both the course name and grade received.
• Official transcripts will be required if you’re accepted and enroll.

If eligible to apply, you must provide:

• Official transcripts with English translations
• Proof of degree completion
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (if you have not competed an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree in an English-speaking institution)

Yes — you may reapply.

We expect strong content knowledge before starting the program. This can be shown through coursework, MTEL subject tests, or relevant experience. You will be required to complete a virtual content assessment unless you’ve already passed the MTEL for your subject.

BTR is a four-year commitment, consisting of one residency year followed by at least three years of teaching in the Boston Public Schools (BPS). As a resident, you receive structured coaching, mentorship, and support from a Collaborating Teacher (CT) and an instructional content coach. Additionally, BTR provides placement in a school community committed to the residency model and support throughout the hiring process for your post-residency BPS position. BTR graduates also receive induction support (ongoing coaching and professional development) during a participant’s first three years as teacher-of-record.

BPE is actively applying for AmeriCorps funding for the 2026–27 program year and will share updates as soon as they are available. The BTR program cost depends on whether AmeriCorps funding is secured:

• If AmeriCorps funding is awarded, the BTR program cost is $15,000 (including induction support). There is no required up-front program cost. Participants may choose to pay the program cost upfront or take a no-interest loan. The loan must be repaid after graduation from BTR, at a rate of $5,000 per year for each of the first three years.

• If AmeriCorps funding is not awarded, the BTR program cost will be reduced to $10,000 (including induction support) to help offset the loss of AmeriCorps benefits. The terms are similar to those above. Participants may choose to pay the program cost upfront or take a no-interest loan. The loan must be repaid after graduation from BTR, at a rate of $3,333 per year for each of the first three years.

Your only upfront BTR program cost is $515 for everything you’ll need — textbooks, resources, and digital tools — all bundled in one Complete Learning Materials Package.

Residents are also responsible for all costs associated with ordering transcripts and registering for MTELs.

Note: BTR program cost is separate from UMass Boston tuition and fees. 

With AmeriCorps funding, Residents receive a $20,000 living stipend (pre-tax), paid semi-monthly in equal installments, contingent on full-time service (1,700 hours).
The stipend is subject to federal, state, and (if applicable) local taxes.

BTR has negotiated a reduced tuition rate for residents:

• $600 per course × 10 courses = $6,000
• 1 Practicum Course = $1,200
  Tuition: $7,200

Anticipated tuition and fees for UMass Boston M.Ed. are: $7,200 tuition + $932 fees = $8,132.
As a graduate student at UMass Boston, you may apply for student loans to cover tuition and other costs. If AmeriCorps funding is secured, you may use the $7,395 Segal Education Award (current 2024–25 amount) to repay part of your federal student loans.
Note: BTR program cost is separate from UMass Boston tuition and fees.

• Apply for student loans or loan deferment through UMass Boston.
• Use the Segal Education Award (if applicable) to repay part of federal loans.
• Explore eligibility for the TEACH Grant in high-need subject areas.

If we receive AmeriCorps funding, BPE provides health, dental, and vision insurance through The Corps Network.
If we do not receive AmeriCorps funding, we suggest you consider Mass Health for health insurance if needed.

BTR’s total cost is significantly lower than most graduate-level teacher preparation programs. Residents benefit from:

• A low-cost master’s degree at UMass Boston
• Access to financial support during the residency year
• Interest-free loans for the BTR program cost
• Three years of continued coaching and support after graduation

Historically, 94% of all BTR grads have pursued employment in BPS and have taken a position after the residency year. The current BPS starting salary with a master’s degree in July 2027 will be $76,230.

No — it is not required, but strongly recommended. You must report any previous scores.

• Communications and Literacy Skills Test (Reading and Writing)
• Subject test for your content area (e.g., Math, ELA, Chemistry)

Elementary candidates are not required to take Foundations of Reading before joining BTR.
You can learn more about the MTELs at http://www.mtel.nesinc.com/.

Computer-based testing is available year-round at Pearson centers in MA, across the U.S., and internationally. Refer to the Pearson VUE website at http://www.pearsonvue.com/mtel/ for more information.

Yes. Select the Boston Teacher Residency Program when registering. Please also make sure to have a PDF copy of your score(s) emailed to you.

Visit the MTEL website for study guides and practice materials.

AmeriCorps is a U.S. federal government program created by the National and Community Service Trust Act in 1993. AmeriCorps is a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which is split into three main divisions, including AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), and NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps). Approximately 75,000 individuals join AmeriCorps annually, totaling more than 1 million past and present members since 1994.
For more information, please visit http://www.americorps.gov.

Boston Teacher Residency (BTR) and Dudley Promise Corps (DPC) are currently proud AmeriCorps programs. BTR residents and DPC corps members complete a year of service to Boston Public Schools (BPS) during the program year, and participate as members in the larger AmeriCorps service network.
BPE is reapplying for funding for the 2026-27 program and hopes to secure the same package as in previous years.

You must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident.

BTR residents currently receive:

• $20,000 living stipend (pre-tax)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Segal Education Award ($7,395)

You may qualify for forbearance during your service and apply your Segal Award to eligible loans afterward. Contact your lender for more specific information or to confirm your loan status during AmeriCorps service.

In 2007, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (“CCRAA”) was signed into law. In addition to other amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965, the CCRAA created two new federal programs: a new Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and a new Income-Based Repayment plan (IBR) for the repayment of federal loans.
The new Income-Based Repayment plan makes repaying education loans more affordable for low-income borrowers, such as AmeriCorps members living on a stipend; AmeriCorps service is also recognized as equivalent to a public service position for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.