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Frequently Asked Questions
Please select an area below or scroll down to view all questions.
RISE Program/Partner Schools | Qualifications | Application Process | Application Troubleshooting
RISE Program/Partner Schools:
- Q: Is RISE a school?
- A: No, RISE is a non-profit organization that connects second-stage teachers with schools in low-income communities where they will be more likely to succeed and remain in teaching. RISE partners with schools that have made a commitment to both equitable achievement for their students and sustainable working conditions for their teachers.
- Q: How much does a position pay? What is the salary schedule for schools?
- A: Because RISE works with a variety of schools – charter, traditional district, and smaller district schools – each has its own separate pay schedule. In general, pay is competitive with the local district and is dependent on a teacher's experience and educational background. RISE encourages teachers to approach this question with school leaders when you contact them through the Network.
- Q: Do you work with public schools? Are you part of a school district?
- A: All of the schools RISE has partnered with are public schools - some public charter, some district small schools, and some traditional district schools. We are an independent non-profit organization, not part of a school district.
- Q: Will I be working for RISE?
- A: No. Once you make contact with a school on the RISE Network, you go through its own hiring process and are employed by that school. You have no obligation to RISE.
- Q: Which schools do you work with in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Chicago?
- A: Because our work is identifying schools to partner with who have demonstrated a commitment to both their students' academic achievement and working conditions for their teachers, RISE asks teachers to make the investment of completing an application prior to viewing specific schools and positions. This allows us to offer value to both our teachers and schools – providing information through our online profiles so both sides can find a good fit.
- Q: Where does RISE work?
- A: Currently RISE works in the San Francisco Bay Area (including San Jose), Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City. During the 2009-2010 school year we hope to work with additional metro areas including Denver and Washington D.C. We will have more information about our new metro areas in the beginning of 2010.
Qualifications:
- Q: What are the qualifications to be considered for RISE?
- A: Teachers must have:
- A commitment to students in low-income communities and a belief that all students can achieve at high levels.
- 2-7 years of full-time teaching experience (beyond student or substitute teaching) with a low-income population in a K-12 classroom in the U.S.
- A valid credential or current enrollment in a credentialing program.
- Q: What is considered a "low-income" school?
- A: RISE asks that schools have at least 50% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. All of the schools in the RISE Network meet that minimum criterion and most far exceed it.
- Q: Why do you focus on teachers with only 2-7 years of experience?
- A: RISE recognizes that teachers with significant experience in the classroom (beyond 7 years) can be among the most effective with their students. Because our mission is to connect second-stage teachers with schools in low-income communities where they will be more likely to succeed and remain in teaching, however, we target our limited resources to teachers who are most at risk of leaving teaching in low-income communities (or the teaching profession altogether). Statistically, teachers earlier in their career (2-7 years) are the most likely to leave.
- Q: Why does RISE require at least one year of teaching experience?
- A: When teachers apply, they must be, at a minimum, in their first year of teaching. RISE recognizes that student teaching is an important stepping stone, however, RISE asks that teachers have at least one year of experience in their own classroom in a low-income school. Our application process requires teachers to speak about the success they have demonstrated working with students over the course of a full year. This experience is also the commitment RISE makes to our Partner Schools.
- Q: I have taught, but it has not been in a school with more than 50% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Can I still apply?
- A: No. Because our mission is to connect second-stage teachers with schools in low-income communities, we do ask teachers to have at least one year of full time teaching in those communities. This is the commitment we make to our partner schools - all of which meet or exceed 50% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (the majority being well above this %).
- Q: I have substitute and/or student teaching experience in a low-income school. Does that count?
- A: No. Teachers must have taught for a full year as the teacher of record in a low-income school to be eligible to use RISE as a resource.
- Q: I have an out of state credential. How do I get that transferred?
- A: RISE asks teachers to inquire with the appropriate state credentialing board to clarify this information. In California, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (http://www.ctc.ca/gov) - 888.921.2682. In Illinois, the Illinois State Board of Education (www.isbe.state.il.us). In New York, the Office of Teaching initiatives (http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert).
- Q: My credential has expired. Can I still apply?
- A: Because the schools RISE works with are all public schools, teachers need to have a valid credential. Please contact the appropriate state office (see above) to clarify what is needed to revalidate your credential.
Application Process
Application Troubleshooting:
- Q: I filled out the first part of the online application but had to leave before I could finish. When I tried to fill out another one, there was an error that said my email was a duplicate email. What should I do?
- A: Our system has saved the first part of your application, so you do not need to fill it out again. Please contact us at (877) 631-7473 or teachers@risenetwork.org with the subject "Partial Application", and we will email you with a link that will take you directly to the second part of the application. We cannot consider your application until we have both parts.
- Q: I'm trying to submit my application and am having trouble uploading my resume. What should I do?
- A: Your resume must be in Microsoft Word format (.doc file). If you do not have Word, you may submit it in Rich Text Format (.rtf file). If you continue to have difficulties, please contact us directly.
- Q: I'm trying to submit my application, but it won't let me submit it without valid email addresses for my references. I've already put in email addresses. What should I do?
- A: Please make sure that the addresses are in the correct format (name@host.domain) and contain no spaces. If you continue to have difficulties, please contact us directly
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