The Educator Pathway Program is designed to support current teacher assistants on their journey to becoming certified classroom teachers. The program provides personalized coaching to meet all individual licensure needs, financial stipends, licensure exam prep, and a cohort-based learning experience to help mitigate barriers to teacher certification. 

• Participants will receive:

  • Individualized Pathway Coaching: Monthly one-on-one support and guidance from experienced pathway coaches to navigate their career journey.

  • Financial Stipends: Up to $1,250 dispersed for attendance when convening with your pathway coach annually. 

  • Test Prep and Support: Access to licensure exam study material, preparation courses in Elementary and Special Education, and vouchers to cover the cost of up to $260 for test registration.

  • Cohort Support: Opportunities to connect with and learn from a supportive group of peers in person and online, who are also pursuing teacher certification.

To be eligible, you must be currently employed as a teacher assistant or paraprofessional in a Rhode Island public or charter school, possess a high school diploma or GED, demonstrate a strong interest in becoming a certified teacher, and commit to the program requirements. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required for any prior undergraduate coursework. Regardless of whether you’ve completed your BA degree or not, candidates who are pursuing classroom teaching certification are eligible for our program. 

Participants can apply to our program at any point in their professional journey when they are interested in and ready to pursue teacher certification. We encourage participants to attend an information session to learn more about our program. We enroll students twice a year, in the Fall and Spring. There are informational sessions for each cycle; however, you can also watch a prerecorded session here. The application for Fall is open from May to the end of July. The application for Spring is open from October to the end of December. 

Participants accepted into the program are expected to adhere to their commitment to program requirements, beginning with attending Orientation and completing the orientation course modules on the Educator Pathway Collective. Orientation provides specific, in-depth details about what to expect on your pathway to certification with ei support.  

The Educator Pathway Collective (EPC)  is a supportive online hub for our EPP participants navigating their journey to certification. It currently offers access to test prep courses, available for Elementary Praxis subtests 7002-7005 & SPED Praxis 5355. It also provides resources, live sessions, a growing network of peers, and a direct line to your pathway coach. 

Participants will engage in three cohort convenings per year. These convenings will be hosted either in person or online and are designed to foster peer connection, reflection, and collaborative learning. Each session will be facilitated by our coaches and aligned to key moments in participants’ journeys, including pathway progress, career growth and development, teacher leadership, and community building. Between convenings, participants will continue to receive individualized coaching, engage with resources and peer discussion on the Educator Pathway Collective (EPC) platform, and attend other networking events. 

Students will meet with pathway coaches once a month during the academic year. They can also meet during the summer, but it is not required. 

If you do not have a BA, we will connect you with our partners to begin working on your undergraduate coursework. 

If your BA is currently in progress, we encourage coaching beginning in the last year of your BA program.

For all other candidates, coaching begins upon acceptance into the program and completion of New Student Orientation.

Asynchronous test prep courses are available on the Educator Pathway Collective (EPC). We currently offer study modules for all four Elementary Praxis Subtests (Teaching Reading 7002, Mathematics 7003, Science 7004, Social Studies 7005) and the Special Education Praxis (5355).

If you’re currently completing your degree, we recommend reviewing your course schedule and identifying any teaching methods courses related to Elementary or SPED subjects. We encourage you to access the corresponding test prep modules on the EPC when—or shortly after—you’ve completed those classes to reinforce your learning.

If you’re currently completing your degree, we recommend reviewing your course schedule and identifying any teaching methods courses related to Elementary or SPED subjects. We encourage you to access the corresponding test prep modules on the EPC when—or shortly after—you’ve completed those classes to reinforce your learning.

All participants receive a Study.com account, which provides access to supplemental materials, learning plans, practice tests, and more to support your preparation for your licensure exam. The subscription also gives you access to study for courses across the board.

In addition, participants are eligible for Praxis test vouchers of up to $260 to cover exam registration costs.

If you need a quiet space to take your exam, our office is available as an “at-home” location. You can schedule time with your coach to access the space.In addition, participants are eligible for Praxis test vouchers of up to $260 to cover exam registration costs.

If you need a quiet space to take your exam, our office is available as an “at-home” location. You can schedule time with your coach to access the space.

• Actively participate in all program components from August to June. 

• Complete orientation 

• Monthly coaching sessions 

• Three annual cohort gatherings

• Complete at least two (2) test prep courses on the EPC.

• Attend two Equity Institute meetups during your time in the program. 

• Deep commitment to supporting the community and being culturally responsive to the needs of all students from those communities.

We understand that life circumstances can sometimes make it difficult to meet program expectations. If you're unable to attend monthly coaching or cohort meetings, please let us know as soon as possible. We’ll schedule a one-on-one conversation to better understand your situation and explore options to help you stay engaged.

Our goal is to support your success, but please note that consistent participation is strongly encouraged to remain eligible for stipends and to get the full benefit of the program. We're here to work with you and find solutions where possible.