Teacher U

KIPP NC Teacher U is dedicated to preparing candidates who are employed at a KIPP NC elementary or secondary schools, focused on student achievement, continuous school improvement and professional development, in service of KIPP NC’s mission.

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The Educator Residency Program is an accelerated 13-month program created to prepare current KIPP North Carolina teachers in meeting NC DPI licensure requirements.

  • Elementary (K-6 Licensure)
  • 2-4 courses per semester
  • Asynchronous and synchronous (virtual) coursework
  • Cohort model to support & systematic plan of study
  • Free tuition for the first year
  • Personalized support
  • Clinical Supervisors and licensed coaches
  • Onsite coaching and observations

Cohort candidates must fulfill all requirements set forth by NC DPI Residency License requirements. This includes yearly licensure renewal, employment, testing, coursework, etc. Enrollment in KIPP NC Teacher U program does not guarantee employment or fulfillment of all licensure requirements. Please always consult with NC DPI & KIPP NC Teacher U websites regarding processes and deadlines.

KIPP North Carolina Teacher U Program Requirements

Course of Study
Completion of the required course of study with a 70% (or a C-) in all courses and a minimum 2.7 GPA.

Field Experience
Completion of 12 hours of field experiences.

Course work and Residency Teaching Requirement
Satisfactory completion of your clinical Residency in Teacher U for at least one (1) academic year.

NC Required Exams
Attempt all NC State Board of Education (NCSBE) required content area exam(s) for the requested licensure area (Praxis and/or Pearson) AND attempting and/or passing score on the edTPA assessment

Five-Year Post-Program Service Commitment: Enrollment in KIPP NC Teacher U is free of charge to accepted candidates. In return for this opportunity and upon successful completion of the program, you agree to work as a full-time employee of KIPP North Carolina for a minimum of five consecutive years. If you voluntarily leave or are dismissed from employment from KIPP North Carolina before completing five years, you agree to pay $1,000 per uncompleted year, up to a total of $5,000.

Course Snapshot

Admission Requirements

Earned Degree

An official, degree-conferred undergraduate transcript that shows proof of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent earned at a recognized foreign institution.

GPA

Demonstrate a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 on four point scale*.

Employment with KIPP NC

Hired for a full-time classroom position at KIPP NC school (lead teacher or fellow).

Exams

Evidence of completing either 24 credit hours of coursework in the requested licensure area OR passing scores on all North Carolina State Board of Education (NCSBE) required content area examination(s) for the requested licensure area (Praxis and Pearson).

Mindset and Beliefs

A WHOLEHEARTED belief that ALL children can go to college, succeed in any career, and conquer any goal they decide to pursue!

Successful applicants will be offered enrollment and are expected to start July of 2025.

The application for the 2024-25 KIPP NC Teacher U is open from April 1 – April 25, 2025.

Unmatched Support for All Participants

Personalized Coaching
Individualized one-on-one coaching is focused on the student’s development. Your assigned clinical supervisor or the program director will work together with students to build self-awareness and learn how to apply both the technical and adaptive skills learned in your course of study to set you up for success and build a strong foundation for success. Through coaching, students will solidify their personal approach to teaching and couple it with proven best practices to support diverse learners and create opportunity-centered spaces.

Tutoring 
Students will have the opportunity to engage in tutoring focused on successful completion of the required exams for licensure (e.g., Pearson, Praxis). dent’s development.

Professional Development
In addition to coaching and observations, all admitted students are surrounded by others that understand this journey and are well-positioned to assist you in this journey. Students are required to complete a minimum number of hours of professional learning each semester. Students will be provided details around ways in which they can complete their professional learning requirements in their day-to-day activities. In addition to the professional learning being aligned to building skills along the development roadmap, they are also designed to meet required course goals that support your journey toward residency. Some of these sessions will be offered by KIPP regional team members, school-based leaders, the KIPP Foundation, or NC Department of Public Instruction.