If you're qualified and passionate to help urban children succeed in Math, the AUSL Chicago Teacher Residency program is a great opportunity for you. Whether you are a new graduate certified (or soon to be) to teach Math or a career-changer new to teaching, AUSL's Master's degree program and year-long classroom residency with an experienced Math teacher will equip you with essential strategies and tools to help students accomplish dramatic improvements in their achievement and learning of Mathematics.

How AUSL Schools Help Students Succeed in Math

The chart below shows AUSL-managed CPS turnaround schools (left) and training academies (right). In all AUSL schools, students have experienced dramatic gains in their achievement in Math.

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AUSL incorporates multiple supports to increase students' success in mathematics:

High Expectations and Engaging Curriculum: The AUSL elementary curriculum draws from Everyday Math, Connected Math, and Math Thematics sources. Realistic, culturally relevant curriculum resources are shared across schools in the AUSL network, and teachers use rigorous and frequent assessments to continually gauge what their students know and need. One example: AUSL is committed to CPS's Algebra Initiative, which teaches 9th grade Algebra in 8th grade so students can place out of it in high school.

Coaching and Support: AUSL teachers receive individualized coaching and support from Numeracy specialists to develop rich, mathematically targeted instruction for their students.

Numeracy Week: Every summer, teachers from all AUSL-managed schools, including new graduates of the residency program, gather for network-wide professional development to prepare for the upcoming school year. Outside experts, collegial planning, and a shared commitment to excellence abound.

Professional Learning Communities: In Math Professional Learning Communities, groups of 8 to 10 teachers gather with an AUSL Math Specialist to share and diagnose samples of student work, reflect and plan together, and receive tools and coaching to improve their practice.

AUSL Network STEM Fair: It's not just a Science Fair - elementary school students from AUSL's elementary schools participate in an annual STEM fair!

Financial Support for Math Residents and Teachers

Additional $10,000 in AUSL Training Year Stipend for Math Residents: The AUSL Chicago Teacher Residency program's package of financial supports for residents includes $30,000 for the training year. For residents training to teach Middle or Secondary Math in 2012-13, this amount will be $40,000. >> Learn more

Higher Amounts for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness: Under the federal Stafford Loan program, individuals who teach full time for five consecutive, complete academic years (following the AUSL training year) in high-needs schools may be eligible for loan forgiveness. Math, science, and special education teachers are eligible for up to $17,500 of loan forgiveness.

Special Needs Exemption from City of Chicago Residency Requirement for CPS teachers: CPS teachers are required to reside in the City of Chicago. However, because there is a shortage of Math teachers, CPS waives this requirement for Math teachers. >> Learn more

Eligibility and Admissions Requirements for Math Residents

Since AUSL is a one-year Master's degree program focusing on teaching methods, you will need to meet your Math content knowledge requirements before you start our program in July 2012. These content knowledge requirements include successful completion of a sufficient number and mix of college-level course credits in Math.

Certified Applicants: If you are already certified to teach Math in Illinois, or will be by June 2012, you will most likely have the Math content credentials you need to be eligible for the Chicago Teacher Residency. If your certification will be granted by a state other than Illinois, it can typically be transferred. After you submit your application and transcripts, contact AUSL Admissions at 773-534-0129 or admissions@ausl-chicago.org to discuss this.

Non-Certified Applicants: To check your eligibility, obtain a copy of your college transcript(s) and analyze your course work using Math Transcript Analysis Form:

Middle School

Secondary

Transcript Analysis Form Guide

If you are more than six semester hours short of the requirements, or if you are not sure if your distribution of courses is a fit, please call AUSL Admissions at 773-534-0129 for information about how you can complete needed courses, and/or help you decide whether Middle or Secondary Math is the right choice for you (they have different content area testing requirements, so you must choose).