Application and Eligibility
- What are the minimum qualifications to apply?
- What is the application timeline?
- May I apply to AUSL if I am a certified teacher?
- I am certified to teach in another state. Can I apply to the AUSL program?
- I have experience teaching in environments where certification is not needed. Can I still apply?
- I am still in school completing my Bachelors degree. Can I apply for the AUSL program?
- I am a working professional who graduated a few years ago and/or I am in a graduate program. Can I still apply for the AUSL program?
- Do I have to live in Chicago to participate in the AUSL program?
- I currently live out of state. Can I apply? How is the interview process different?
- Do I need to be a US Citizen or permanent resident to apply?
- What is the ideal candidate for AUSL’s UTR program?
- May I submit an application before I register for or receive my tests scores for the basic skills and/or state content area tests? Which tests do I take?
- What if I do not pass the Content Area and/or Basic Skills Tests?
- I have taken and passed my basic skills and/or content area tests a few years ago. Do I have to re-take them?
- What am I eligible to Teach?
- I filled out the transcript analysis form and am missing required coursework. Can I still be accepted?
- I only took one course at a university. Do I still need to submit a transcript from that school?
- Which degree will residents earn after the residency year?
- What is my commitment to AUSL if I get accepted?
- What happens if for an unforeseeable reason I cannot commit to five (5) years?
- When does the 2010-2011 residency program start and end?
- If I am not accepted into the program, can I apply again?
Finances
- Does AUSL provide health insurance to residents?
- What is the salary during the AUSL residency program? What is the salary I will earn after the residency year when I am certified?
- What is the tuition for National Louis?
- How do I apply for financial aid?
Residency Placement and School Assignment
- Where are AUSL schools located
- Can I choose which school I would like to work at for my residency year? Where will I be placed?
- How are the mentors selected?
- What happens if I do not get placed in an AUSL Turnaround School after the residency year?
- What will my schedule look like if I get accepted?
1. What are the minimum qualifications to apply?
What are the minimum qualifications to apply? All applicants must have a B.A. with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and have the required college coursework to become certified in Illinois. In addition, non-certified applicants must pass both the basics skills and appropriate content area ISBE certification tests before the program start date. The AUSL teacher training and residency program is a highly competitive program. Not all qualified applicants will be accepted. For more detailed admission criteria, see the Admissions page.
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2. What is the application timeline?
What can I expect during the admissions process? Applications are received on a rolling basis with four specific deadlines. To proceed to the interview stage, all supplemental documentation must be submitted to complete your application. Completed applications will undergo a file review process. Candidates who pass the file review process will be scheduled for a 45-minute first interview. Those candidates who we feel may be a great fit for our organization will be invited to a half day interview session where they will meet with a panel of interviewers, conduct a short written test, and present a five-minute grade and subject appropriate lesson. See Admission Timeline and a detailed list of deadlines and supplemental documents needed here.
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3. May I apply to AUSL if I am a certified teacher?
Absolutely. We have a specialized residency program for certified teachers who desire classroom training in urban schools and value the importance of school support structures to increase their success.
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4. I am certified to teach in another state. Can I apply to the AUSL program?
Yes. You will, however, need to contact the Illinois Board of Education to process a transfer of your certification to Illinois. This process may require you to take one or more tests which the state deems necessary to process your request.
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5. I have experience teaching in environments where certification is not needed. Can I still apply?
Absolutely. We will work with you to obtain your certification while obtaining your Masters degree and receiving school based support to help you become a successful teacher.
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6. I am still in school completing my Bachelors degree. Can I apply for the AUSL program?
Yes, however you must obtain and provide proof of your Bachelor’s degree by the June start date of the program.
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7. I am a working professional who graduated a few years ago and/or I am in a graduate program. Can I still apply for the AUSL program?
Yes. AUSL looks for passionate and dedicated leaders from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. You are still eligible to apply and will use the same application procedure as other applicants.
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8. Do I have to live in Chicago to participate in the AUSL program?
No. AUSL does not have a residency requirement. However, the Chicago Public School system does require its employees to live in Chicago. You will have to abide by their residency requirement when you begin your full time teaching career following graduation from our program.
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9. I currently live out of state. Can I apply? How is the interview process different?
Yes, we accept out of state applications. If you live out of state, your first interview will be conducted over the phone. If invited to participate, you will be required to attend the half day second interview in Chicago.
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10. Do I need to be a US Citizen or permanent resident to apply?
Yes. Residents must either have U.S. citizenship or must be a permanent resident by the time the program starts in June.
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11. What is the ideal candidate for AUSL’s UTR program?
There is no specific profile for a successful teacher in urban schools. AUSL seeks applicants from all backgrounds and experiences who have a passion and dedication to work hard and have the potential to become a quality instructor at high needs schools in low-income communities in Chicago.
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12. May I submit an application before I register for or receive my tests scores for the basic skills and/or state content area tests? Which tests do I take?
Yes. AUSL will accept applications without official test scores or registrations. However, you must submit a copy of the appropriate test registration statements or test scores to our admissions office by the appropriate supplemental documentation deadline in order to complete your application and move to the interview stage. See Test Requirement page for more details on testing and which specific tests you will need to take.
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13. What if I do not pass the Content Area and/or Basic Skills Tests?
All residents are required to have passed both the Basic Skills and appropriate Content Area Tests prior to the start of the program. The last eligible month to take the tests is April.
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14. I have taken and passed my basic skills and/or content area tests a few years ago. Do I have to re-take them?
It depends. ICTS Basic Skills and Content Area test scores are valid for five (5) years; we accept applicable passing test scores dated as early as June 2005.
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15. What am I eligible to Teach?
The state of Illinois is very specific on the required classes you need to have taken in order to obtain certification to teach a subject on the secondary level. For elementary teaching certification, there are somewhat different coursework options for residents. Please click HERE to review the necessary coursework you will need to become a certified teacher through the AUSL teacher training and certification program. Also, make sure to review and fill out the transcript analysis form for your subject and grade level interest.
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16. I filled out the transcript analysis form and am missing required coursework. Can I still be accepted?
It depends. If you are missing one or two required courses on your transcript analysis form, you can make them up. All missing coursework must be completed by the end of the program. All residents with coursework deficiencies are strongly encouraged to make up coursework before the program starts in June. If you have more than two course deficiencies, you must complete that coursework in order to be eligible for the program. You may contact the AUSL Recruitment and Admissions office for further guidance.
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17. I only took one course at a university. Do I still need to submit a transcript from that school?
Yes. AUSL requires an official sealed transcript from all undergraduate and graduate institutions you have attended, regardless of how many credits were earned.
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18. Which degree will residents earn after the residency year?
Upon completion of the residency year, residents without previous teaching certification will earn a Master of Arts in Teaching from National-Louis University. Previously certified residents with a Bachelor’s degree in Education will receive a Master’s of Education in Instructional Leadership from University of Illinois at Chicago.
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19. What is my commitment to AUSL if I get accepted?
AUSL program requires five years of commitment. Resident teachers train for 12 months and commit to teaching in a high-needs Chicago Public School for a minimum of four years.
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20. What happens if for an unforeseeable reason I cannot commit to five (5) years?
Candidates who successfully graduate from the Residency program are committed to teach for a minimum of four years in a high-needs CPS school. If you are unable to satisfy this commitment you will be required to reimburse AUSL for a portion of the residency training salary. That portion will be outlined in your contractual agreement and will be prorated based on the number of years of teaching you complete.
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21. When does the 2010-2011 residency program start and end?
The one year residency program starts in June of 2010 and ends the following June 2011.
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22. If I am not accepted into the program, can I apply again?
We welcome you to reapply for the program the following year. You cannot apply more than once for the same recruiting year. Before reapplying, you are encouraged to seek out leadership and volunteer opportunities working with youth especially within the city of Chicago.
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23. Does AUSL provide health insurance to residents?
Yes. AUSL residents will be enrolled in an AUSL-paid health insurance plan for their residency year.
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24. What is the salary during the AUSL residency program? What is the salary I will earn after the residency year when I am certified?
AUSL provides a $32,000 training salary to Residents. After the residency year, residents will work for CPS and obtain their salary for first year teachers with a Masters Degree. Click here for the most recent CPS salary structure.
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25. What is the tuition for National Louis?
While subject to change, tuition rates for NLU during the 2010 school year was $12,700.
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26. How do I apply for financial aid?
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1, 2010 (for the 2010-2011 year) via www.studentaid.ed.gov. Upon acceptance to the program, you will work directly with the Financial Aid offices of your applicable university partner to apply for financial assistance with university tuition costs. If you are applying for AUSL's NLU track, use the National-Louis University FAFSA school code 001733.
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27. Where are AUSL schools located?
AUSL manages 14 schools – mostly on the West and South sides of Chicago. For locations, click here.
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28. Can I choose which school I would like to work at for my residency year? Where will I be placed?
While AUSL attempts to take into consideration resident preferences and other variables such as resident home address during the placement, placement at a given school is not guaranteed and is dependent on available mentors and grade level openings at each school.
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29. How are the mentors selected?
AUSL mentor teachers are experienced teachers which have not only have been identified by AUSL to be excellent teachers wishing to participate in the program but also are phenomenal trainers which help them transmit these skills onto others.
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30. What happens if I do not get placed in an AUSL Turnaround School after the residency year?
While most of our resident graduates are placed in an AUSL Turnaround School after their residency year, due to space constraints it is possible to be placed in other high needs Chicago Public Schools. Unfortunately, at this time support for resident graduates at non-AUSL schools is not available.
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31. What will my schedule look like if I get accepted?
During the summer, residents will be performing university coursework Monday through Friday and working towards their Master’s degree. When Chicago Public Schools open their doors in the autumn, residents will be in schools with their mentor and students Monday through Thursday during the school year. On Friday during the school year, residents will complete their university coursework to fulfill their Master’s degree requirements.
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