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Teacher Pipeline Project

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About the Teacher Pipeline Project

students on their first day of class outside of a building

American University’s School of Education is invested in cultivating a teacher workforce that is diverse and well-prepared to meet the needs of students in the District of Columbia. 

The Teacher Pipeline Project provides dual enrollment opportunities in education courses and full scholarships for aspiring teachers, with new teacher coaching, through a partnership between American University, the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), Friendship Charter Schools, and the Office of the State Superintendent in Education (OSSE). Designed to increase the number of DC teachers from the District, it aims to diversify the teacher workforce and increase teacher retention. Teaching Fellows can aspire to be general elementary or secondary teachers and/or special education teachers.

The Project has two components:

  1. The Dual Enrollment Program for DC seniors to take college courses while in high school, and
  2. The Undergraduate AU Teaching Fellows full scholarships for DC graduates committing to teaching in DC schools upon degree completion.

NNBC4 teacher pipeline screenshotBC4, a television station in Washington, DC, spotlighted our Teacher Pipeline Project as part of their Black History Month programming. Watch it here.

 

Dual Enrollment

The first phase of the Teacher Pipeline Project is the Dual Enrollment Program, which includes the opportunity for DC high school seniors to enroll in six college credits (e.g., two courses), free of charge. Students will attend on-campus courses alongside current AU students. Between 10-20 high school students are selected each year to participate in the dual enrollment experience. The courses include the following:

Read SOE Dean Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy's Washington Post article, Opinion: A Dual-enrollment Program for D.C. High School Students Could Help Fill Classrooms in the Future.

AU Teaching Fellows

The second phase of the Teacher Pipeline Project consists of DC high school graduates being admitted to AU SOE’s Teacher Preparation Program as AU Teaching Fellows. Full scholarships will be offered to Fellows.

Teaching Fellows can aspire to be general elementary or secondary teachers and/or special education teachers via the following majors/minors:

Scholarships for high school students who wish to become AU Teaching Fellows include:

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Teacher Pipeline Project FAQs

The Teacher Pipeline Project provides dual enrollment opportunities in education courses for high school students, full scholarships for aspiring teachers enrolled in undergraduate degrees, and new teacher coaching. Designed to increase the number of DC teachers from the District, the program aims to diversify the teacher workforce and increase teacher retention. Teaching Fellows can aspire to be general elementary or secondary teachers and/or special education teachers. The program is a partnership between American University, the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), Friendship Charter Schools, and the Office of the State Superintendent in Education (OSSE).

AU Teaching Fellows can attend American University’s School of Education tuition free. In addition to four years of funding, the Fellows are also guaranteed a teaching job upon graduation.

Yes, all Teaching Fellows will have D.C. certification, which can be used in other states.

Students are required to complete the AU application for admission. See application here. There are special questions pertaining to the Teaching Fellows Program. 

Yes, American University provides accommodations for students with disabilities. 

Contact Information

For more information on the Teacher Pipeline Project contact: