Frequently Asked Questions

See the Apply Now section of our website in order to learn about how to apply, eligibility requirements, and application timelines. This section will also contain a checklist for interested applicants outlining each step of the application process. The first step of the application process includes filling out and submitting the resident questionnaire. Once submitted, all applicants will receive an email outlining the next steps of the application process.

In order to be eligible for the fall 2020 DTR cohort (Cohort 7), an applicant must be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident, and hold or expect to hold a bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the program.

DTR is in the process of finalizing its eligibility requirements for the 2020-2021 teacher residency cohort and will share these requirements in early September. 

In the past, since program graduates also took graduate level course-work at Texas A&M University – Commerce, program residents needed to meet their minimum overall GPA requirement for graduate level coursework of 3.0.

For the full scope of the necessary materials for both the application and admissions process, please click here to apply now. 

In order to be fully admitted into DTR as well as the university graduate school you will need to take and pass a (one) qualifying entrance exam.

Qualifying entrance exams are:

1. PACT Exam (Also referred to as the TExES exam)

Pro Tip: You may see these exams referred to as the Pre-Admissions Content Test (PACT) and the Texas Examinations for Educator Standards (TExES), but they are exactly the same. The different names just refer to when you take the exam: If it’s prior to admission, it’s referred to as the PACT, but otherwise it’s called the TExES. See Texas Educator Certification Testing for more details.

A few notes about exams:

1. Please plan on taking these exams early. Do not wait until late Spring/Early Summer (May/June) to take these exams.

2. Once you take the exam score reports will be sent directly to the university. You will also receive an electronic score report in your email, which we ask that you send directly to us for our files.  We also send this report directly to the university to expedite the admissions process.

3. If you have already taken GRE, you are able to submit the GRE score for admissions into the university.

4. Regardless of if you take GRE, ALL residents will eventually need to take and pass the PACT/TExES exam before September, as this is a state requirement for teacher education programs.

5. The PACT exam is content and grade level specific – you will take the PACT exam that correlates to your desired subject area. State approved subject and grade level preparation manuals can be found here.

6. If you choose to only take the PACT exam and pass the PACT exam, you do not also need to take the GRE.

7. If you are applying from within the state of Texas we recommend that you go ahead and register to take the PACT exam first. If there are concerns about passing the exam or if you are unable to pass the exam on your first attempt, we will work with you as a candidate to make sure that you are successful upon your second attempt.

8. Please note that you will not be able to apply for or access any type of university financial aid until a qualifying exam is taken and you are fully admitted to the university.

9. We also have a number of additional resources, specifically for the PACT exam that we can provide you with – all you have to do is ask!

10. We recommend that all out of state individuals speak with us on an individual basis about their testing situation. There are times when the PACT exam is not offered in some states, so we want to be sure that we talk through a testing plan that works for you.

The 2020 – 2021 Dallas Teacher Residency Teacher Residency Cohort (7) will begin the program in July of 2020.

Program residents will begin their university coursework in the summer (July) of 2020 and begin their actual clinical experience in a classroom in late August, coinciding with the beginning of the academic school year of partnering school districts. The field experience internship will last the duration of the academic year, while university coursework will be completed the following summer (2021).

Following successful completion of the program, Dallas Teacher Residency will work with program residents to place them in full time teaching positions in partnering school districts. Program residents are encouraged to teach at least 3 years in schools in partnering school districts. In total, program graduates receive a minimum of 4 years of direct support from Dallas Teacher Residency.

The Dallas Teacher Residency teacher preparation program is 14-months, beginning in July and ending the following summer.

All program residents will partake in a full-year teaching residency in an urban school for the duration of the academic school year. Residents spend four days a week in their school classrooms with their mentor teachers throughout the entire school year (August-May).

In addition, program residents take graduate level coursework throughout the entirety of the 14 month program. While graduate class schedules vary, during the summer months, program residents typically take courses two or three days a week, while during the academic school year, residents will only take coursework on a single day.

Dallas Teacher Residency observes all partnering school district holidays, and program residents are not in their residency schools on these days.

Upon successful completion of the Dallas Teacher Residency program, program graduates will be in a very competitive positions to receive full time teaching positions with our partner school districts – and are also, encouraged to teach in these districts. To date, 100% of our program graduates have received full time teaching offers.

Dallas Teacher Residency works closely with partnering school districts to ensure that all successful graduates receive full time teaching positions.

Please note that all program graduates will go through the standard district interview process designed for all new teachers interested in teaching in our partnering school districts. Once hired, program graduates are employees of the district and not of Dallas Teacher Residency.

Once graduates are teaching full time, Dallas Teacher Residency will continue to provide on-going support to graduates, however, have no input in the evaluation of program graduates or employment decisions.

By becoming a Dallas Teacher Residency program resident, all residents are encouraged to teach in a partnering school district following the completion of their residency year. Dallas Teacher Residency encourages all program graduates to stay in the teaching field beyond their residency year, taking on leadership roles and serving as powerful change agents within the schools and school districts they work.

While encouraged, following the completion of the residency program, residents are neither bound, nor must they commit to providing future services to a partnering school district of the program or any other employer. Commitment of future services is not a requirement of the scholarship received during the residency year. It is the responsibility of the scholarship recipient to correctly report all scholarships and we advise each resident to check with their tax advisor for proper reporting to the IRS.

Residents that do choose to teach in Title-1 school districts may be eligible for federal tuition & loan forgiveness programs that may have been accumulated to assist with graduate tuition costs. Upon acceptance, Dallas Teacher Residency will work closely with program residents to ensure that each resident is made aware of the financial support that is available.

Each program applicant will need to apply and be admitted to the graduate education program at Texas A&M University – Commerce.

Prior to applying to the university, interested applicants will first apply to Dallas Teacher Residency.

If selected to move through the application process, candidates are guided through the process of applying to the university by a Dallas Teacher Residency staff member.

Additional information about graduate programs at Texas A&M University – Commerce can be found here. Please note that for full admission into the Dallas Teacher Residency program, candidates must meet all the admission requirements of Dallas Teacher Residency and of Texas A&M University – Commerce.

There is a comprehensive mentor/resident matching process which takes place in the spring/early summer where both resident and mentor will have time to meet and identify potential partners. Dallas Teacher Residency works closely with district and school leaders  in order to identify mentor teachers that have the unique skill set and experience necessary to succeed as a mentor teacher. There are a number of dispositions and skills which Dallas Teacher Residency and district principals will look to identify in their selection of mentor teachers, specifically: their ability and willingness to coach others, their commitment to teaching, their ability to demonstrate academic gains in their classroom, and a desire to partake in ongoing professional learning. Mentor teachers receive ongoing training and support through the program to enhance and build upon their own coaching and mentoring skills.

You are eligible to apply for the Dallas Teacher Residency program if you already have a teaching license from Texas, or from another state. During the application process, you will need to submit all proof of certification to Texas A&M University – Commerce for review.

For additional information specifically related to teacher certification in Texas, please go to the TEA website.

No. Acceptance into Dallas Teacher Residency is not limited to Texas residents. However, program residents will live in Texas, and more specifically, the Dallas-Fort Worth area during their residency year. Additionally, most program residents choose to remain in the Dallas area, or in close proximity following their resident year, due to the fact that many continue to teach in partnering school districts upon graduation from the program.

At this time, Dallas Teacher Residency does not provide housing for program residents. Dallas Teacher Residency is available for advice and assistance with questions pertaining to housing and transportation.

Whether you are an individual interested in becoming a program resident, or simply someone interested in education and teacher preparation, there are a number of ways to learn more about our program. You can follow our program on our Facebook and Twitter pages, in addition to following our blog. There will also be several information sessions and Dallas Teacher Residency university campus visits throughout the calendar year. Information and dates of regarding these events will be provided on our website. If you are interested in becoming a program resident, please fill out our program resident questionnaire, which will provide you with additional information regarding the full application process. We also encourage you to sign-up for email updates on our website to ensure that you are informed of our events, program progress and updates, and recent news related to education reform and teacher education. You are also able to email us directly at info@dallastr.org 

After reviewing the information provided on our website and you continue to have additional questions regarding any aspect of our program components, or the application process, please do not hesitate to send us an email at info@dallastr.org. Thank you for your interest in the Dallas Teacher Residency program.