Becoming a Teacher is Possible with Residency Awards & Financial Aid
We’re committed to making your journey to the classroom possible.
The AUSL Teacher Residency helps you access scholarships, grants, loan opportunities, and support to make your training year attainable.
Upon graduation, you’ll begin your career as a master’s level teacher. AUSL Teacher Residency graduates are qualified to become an official Chicago or Lake County Public School teacher and union member, with a starting salary of $51,000 – $82,000.
Financial Cost Estimator
Use the calculator below to estimate the total cost of the program. If you have questions about financial aid resources, our recruitment team can help connect you with the right resources.
Funding and Support
AUSL Resident Scholarship
AUSL Residents receive financial support throughout their residency year. Depending on your school partner, you will receive at least $22,100 in a training scholarship from AUSL or be paid directly by your partner district while completing your residency. This financial support can help offset tuition and living expenses during your training year.
AmeriCorps Segal Award (Eligible AmeriCorps Participants)
The AUSL Teacher Residency is a proud AmeriCorps partner, offering a service-based fellowship that invests in your professional future. Eligible residents who join the AUSL AmeriCorps program earn an estimated $3,500 Segal Education Award.
Please note that the Segal Education Award amount is contingent upon annual grant renewal, grant terms, and confirmed funding. Positions are limited and filled on a rolling basis; please be aware that residents in the Dolton or LEARN programs are not eligible for the AUSL AmeriCorps program.
TEACH Grant
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is administered through DePaul University. Residents are eligible to apply for the TEACH grant but must be accepted into the program after an interview with DePaul staff. The amount varies, but the maximum is $4000 a year, paid by quarter. Residents who enter the program with a GPA of 3.25 or higher will also be eligible for the Summer term, for an additional $1,300 (approximately) for the program. The grant requires four (4) years of teaching in a high needs school, or the grant must be repaid. Information on DePaul’s TEACH grant is available here.
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FAQ: The AUSL Resident Scholarship
What is the AUSL Resident Scholarship?
Financial support varies by residency partner. Depending on your school partner, you will receive at least $22,100 in a training scholarship from AUSL or be paid directly by your partner district while completing your residency. Scholarship funds may be used toward DePaul tuition, living expenses, or educational expenses during the residency year. A portion of the scholarship may be subject to repayment if Resident contract requirements are not fulfilled.
How often will I be sent a scholarship payment and how much will it be?
A scholarship payment will be made each month, generally, starting in July when courses begin with 13 payments totalling at least $22,100. Depending on the partner, you may be paid directly by the district, in which case payment schedules and amounts may differ. Please reach out to a recruiter for more details.
Would I have to repay my scholarship or scholarship advance?
The terms for repayment are spelled out in the Resident Contract. The repayment specifics are worked out on a case-by-case basis, but generally the cause of repayment is that the Resident doesn’t fulfill the terms of their placement. The contract calls for a residency year and four years teaching in an AUSL Residency-approved school, a CPS Opportunity School, or a high-needs CPS or Lake County school approved by the AUSL Residency. The repayment schedule is prorated for years of service in approved schools.
FAQ: AmeriCorps Segal Education Award (AmeriCorps Participant)
What is the AmeriCorps Segal Education Award?
The Segal Award is a grant earnd by residents upon completion of their year of service in AmeriCorps as part of the AUSL Residency program. Residents must be eligible to enroll for AmeriCorps service (terms of enrollment below) and complete the necessary timesheets and paperwork to be enrolled in the AUSL Residency AmeriCorps Program. Important to note: the Segal Award is granted at the end of the program. It can be used to cover the cost of attendance at DePaul or be paid directly to a student loan servicer.
Please note that the Segal Education Award amount is contingent upon annual grant renewal, grant terms, and confirmed funding.
What are the eligibility requirements?
A resident must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful U.S. Permanent Resident. You must also meet all safety requirements for entry to schools, (fingerprinting, drug convictions, etc.) to be eligible for AmeriCorps service. Finally, if you have previously served with an AmeriCorps program the you must have not receive an accumulation of two full-time Segal Education Awards. If you have received more than two full-time Segal Education Awards, you are not eligible for the AUSL AmeriCorps program.
How much is the Segal Award worth?
The Segal Award is worth an estimated amount of $3,500. The Segal Education Award is not a cash award payment.
Residents who do not complete their full service term may be considered for a prorated Segal Education Award. Any determination regarding a prorated award will be made on an individual basis, considering the resident’s standing within the AUSL Teacher Residency program, the circumstances of the exit or dismissal, the amount of service completed, and applicable AmeriCorps and AUSL policies.
Please note that the Segal Education Award amount is contingent upon annual grant renewal, grant terms, and confirmed funding.
What can I use the Segal Education Award for?
- Cover tuition at DePaul University.
- Pay down qualified student loans, including eligible existing or current qualifying loans.
- Pay for tuition for future education at eligible institutions
Is it true my qualifying student loans will be eligible for forbearance during my term of service?
Yes. If you are in the AUSL Residency AmeriCorps program, your federal student loans are eligible for forbearance during your period of service. The request is completed through the MyAmeriCorps portal after enrollment into the AUSL AmeriCorps program. Being a full time graduate student at DePaul also automatically puts your loans in forbearance as well.
Will AmeriCorps make an interest payment for me on the loans that are in forbearance while I serve in the program?
In some cases, AmeriCorps members may be eligible for a payment to cover accrued interest on qualifying loans that were placed in forbearance during their service term. Eligibility and the amount covered are determined by AmeriCorps guidelines and must be requested through the MyAmeriCorps portal after completing service.
While your payments are paused, interest continues to accrue. If you successfully complete your service term and earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, AmeriCorps may pay all or part of the interest that accrued during your approved forbearance period. That interest payment is generally considered taxable income.
More information on AmeriCorps and the Segal Award are available here.
FAQ: Federal TEACH Grant at DePaul University
What is the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program?
The TEACH Grant is administered through DePaul. Residents are eligible to apply for the TEACH grant but must be accepted into the program after an interview with DePaul staff. The amount varies, but the maximum is $4000 a year, paid by quarter. Residents who enter the program with a GPA of 3.25 or higher will also be eligible, for an additional $1,300 (approximately) for the program. The grant requires four (4) years of teaching in a high needs school, or the grant must be repaid. Information on DePaul’s TEACH grant is available here.
What are the steps for applying and receiving the TEACH Grant?
To be eligible for the TEACH Grant, Residents must:
- Complete a FAFSA Form
- Complete, sign, and submit the TEACH Grant forms at DePaul University to DePaul Financial Aid
- Complete, sign, and submit the online Agreement to Serve (ATS). FSA login required.
- Complete TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling requirement. FSA login required
- Watch the TEACH Grant Teaching Obligations webstream
- Watch the TEACH Grant Potential Repayment Obligation webstream
How much is the TEACH Grant worth?
The grant is paid out in the fall, winter and spring, with a maximum of $4,000 available per academic year.
What are the service requirements to receive the TEACH Grant?
- Residents agree to serve as a full time teacher in a high needs field in a school that serves low-income students.
- Residents agree to teach four (4) academic years within the eight (8) calendar years after graduation from your licensing program.
- Upon graduation from your licensing program, Resident TEACH Grant recipients must submit annually showing they have completed a year of qualifying teacher service or their intent to meet the requirements of the TEACH Grant.
What other requirements for application are there?
- Residents must have had a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher in your last academic degree program.
- To continue receiving the TEACH Grant during the academic year, a cumulative 3.25 GPA must be maintained.
- All courses registered for and taken in the degree program must issue a letter grade. No pass/fail course grades are allowed.
Important TEACH Grant information to consider:
Please be aware that the Federal TEACH grant has the potential of turning into a Federal Unsubsidized Loan. You need to be committed to teaching in a high-need subject area in a school serving low-income students. If you are unsure about this commitment, you should contact DePaul Central to discuss other aid resources.
IMPORTANT: If you fail to complete this service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. You will repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education incurring interest from the date the grant(s) was disbursed.
Still have questions?
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AUSL:
Our mission
AUSL’s nationally recognized teacher residency program recruits passionate new teachers and trains them with the skill set needed to succeed in the classroom. Nationwide, AUSL consults with school districts to help educators and schools foster whole-child success, drawing on over 25 years of experience in leadership and innovation.
Contact us
Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL)
c/o DePaul University College of Education
2247 N Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: 773-943-7810
Chicago Teacher Residency Program
AUSL Admissions
c/o DePaul University College of Education
2247 N Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
[email protected]
CTR Recruitment Office:
Phone: 773-943-7810
© Academy for Urban School Leadership. All Rights Reserved. Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 36-4447457
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Training and supporting excellent teachers
Our mission
The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) is a nonprofit organization that provides equity-focused programming to improve educational outcomes for students in underinvested communities. Our nationally-recognized Teacher Residency Program, recruits and trains diverse teachers with the long-term passion and skillset needed. By leveraging the success of our Advisory Services, AUSL is transforming schools to help school districts across the country.
Contact us
Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL)
PO Box 346165
Chicago, IL 60634-9998
Phone: 773-943-7810
Chicago Teacher Residency Program
AUSL Admissions
P.O. Box 16440
Chicago, IL 60616-9998
[email protected]
CTR Recruitment Office:
Phone: 773-943-7810
© Academy for Urban School Leadership. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy