Relay residency program application process

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Update Your Information: Has your teaching placement changed? Your address? Please be sure to submit a student update form if any of your information has changed since you applied to Relay. Students can find the form on their status page in the student support tab on the status page. New information may include a new address, updates to your place of employment, or a change to the subject or grade area you are teaching. If you no longer have a teaching position, please email [email protected].

Relay prepares culturally responsive teachers through three major programs:

Master of Arts in Teaching

• Two-year master’s degree with an option for certification
• Learn proven teaching skills and build the mindsets necessary to lead a vibrant and engaging classroom.
• Develop pedagogical expertise in your chosen subject area and learn strategies to educate the whole child.
• Receive targeted feedback from professors and peers, coupled with unparalleled opportunities for authentic practice, to hone your skills and elevate your craft.

Relay Teaching Residency

• Participate in a supportive preparation program, earn a teaching credential, complete a master’s degree, and have on-the-job experience — all at an extremely affordable price.
• Gradually build your skills, beginning first as a full-time teacher-in-residence supporting a lead classroom teacher.
• Participate in clinical practice courses, which include an intensive form of focused deliberate practice that has been proven to help experts — from medical doctors to professional athletes — develop complex skills.

Teacher Certification

• One-year teacher certification program (not available in all locations or may be more than one year)
• Prepares novice teachers, experienced teachers, career changers, and others in need of teaching certification to enter the classroom with confidence.
• Learn the fundamentals of creating a positive classroom culture and research-based practices for teaching content effectively, while receiving coaching from faculty who are experienced, PK-12 teachers.
• Build your skills and receive support preparing for certification exams.

Advanced Certificate in Special Education

• One-year intensive for experienced general educators who already hold a certification in general education and want to advance their skills to support all children. The program will equip you with the strategies and mindsets to support a wide range of learners and advance your career.
• The special education curriculum provides a foundation in all disabilities, but you will develop specific expertise in learning disabilities and high-incidence behavioral needs. You’ll also learn how to advocate on behalf of your students to ensure that they receive the services and support they deserve, and you’ll work one-on-one with a student in a unique practicum experience called the Intervention Intensive.
• Upon completion of the program, you will gain a new perspective on your role as an educator, and you will be qualified to either expand your impact in the general education classroom or pursue the range of roles available to certified special educators.

Additional program opportunities include:

• Dual Certification in Content Area and Special Education - available in some locations, students may pursue both their content area and special education at the same time.
• English Language Learner Concentration - for students who support English Language Learners, some locations provide a specialization in this area of pedagogy.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, Relay coursework will be delivered fully online. While the majority of Relay's programs are fully online for the 2024-2025 academic year, there may be one or more programs in the following states that may have an in-person component: CT, IL, and TN. Students must have a program-aligned instructional role within the geographic location that aligns with the campus to which they are enrolled but will take classes via online instruction. To learn more and prepare for online coursework, click here.

As a prospective student at Relay, you must complete Relay’s admissions process, including an application and providing additional supporting materials. Relay’s admissions process includes the following components:

• Applicant information, including education and employment information;
• An up-to-date and polished resume;
• A short essay on your commitment to teaching;
• Contact information for at least one recommender, to whom Relay will reach out;
• Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Please see here for specific submission instructions for official transcripts, including bachelor degree conferred transcripts, graduate transcripts, transcripts from institutions outside of the U.S., and credits earned from Study Abroad; and
• Proof of meeting state-specific admissions requirements.

On the following pages you will find an outline of the application and admissions process:

• Admissions Process
• Eligibility Requirements
• Instructional Role & Relay Partners
• Application Guide
• Admissions Checklist Guide
• Transcripts Guide
• Information for International Applicants
• Admissions Deadlines
• Admissions Offer

Each page of the Admissions Guide is very detailed. Please read thoroughly and carefully as you become more informed about the process.