FAQ's

Q. What is the application process?

A. You must complete all parts of the application and upload your resume. You may also upload your teaching portfolio (optional but recommended). You must also complete the Teacher Insight on line interview in order for your application to be considered complete and ready for review.

Once complete, your application will be reviewed within 10 days. This review will determine your initial eligibility based on self-reported information. You will receive email notifications regarding the status of your application.

If you are moved to “recommended” status, you will be able to access information about special events using your ID and password. These events/activities include networking events, school based interviews with principals, and system-wide placement fairs.

Q. I received a Commitment of Employment. What does this mean and what do I have to do?

A. Many candidates are interviewed by BCPSS recruiters at college/university on-campus Education Career Fairs. These are considered screening interviews and become a part of an applicant file. Applicants who do not interview with recruiters may be contacted by phone or email to arrange for either a telephone or on-site interview.

Commitments of Employment are made based on a review of credentials and completion of an interview. These early offers of employment are conditioned on the availability of positions, the completion of an application, and the submission and satisfactory review of all required documentation.

The Commitment of Employment assures the named applicant a teaching position in their certification area in the BCPSS. The commitment is contingent upon:

(a) the approval of the candidate for employment by the Department of Human Resources,

(b) the applicant’s ability to receive a professional Maryland teaching certificate

(c) the submittal and receipt by the BCPSS of all mandatory documentation for employment

(d) the availability of teaching positions in their certification area.

Commitments of Employment are open for acceptance for a period of 30 days from the date of issuance. If you plan to accept a teaching position with the BCPSS, you must sign and return the Commitment of Employment form to the Department of Human Resources, Attn: Application Documentation, Room 100, 200 East North Avenue, Baltimore, Md 21202.

Failure to execute and return the required acceptance form is considered a declination. Candidates who receive and accept a Commitment of Employment are invited to attend the BCPSS Teacher Placement Fairs.

Q. What takes place at Teacher Placement Fairs?

A. Each year the BCPSS hosts Teacher Placement Fairs. Since teachers are normally not arbitrarily assigned to schools, these events are used to start the teacher assignment process. At the fairs, invited candidates are allowed to interview with schools with vacancies in their specific certification area. It also gives candidates an opportunity to speak directly with principals and visit schools of potential assignment.

Various vendors from the local banking and housing sector also participate. It is a chance for candidates to visit Baltimore and better acquaint themselves with the BCPSS and the city.

Q. What takes place at Employment Processing?

A. Employment processing is the final step to becoming a BCPSS teacher. In order to be scheduled for an employment processing appointment, a candidate must have a complete application file and a school assignment.

No teacher may report for duty without going through employment processing. The Department of Human Resources is the hiring authority for the BCPSS and is responsible for the scheduling of all prospective teachers for employment processing.

During the processing appointment, candidates are fingerprinted, complete all benefits paperwork, obtain an identification badge, receive a physical examination appointment, sign an official contract, receive their salary/assignment letter, and are placed on payroll.

Q. What do I need to bring to the employment processing appointment?

A. The following documents must be presented at the time of your employment processing appointment. Failure to provide these documents will preclude you from completing the employment process and signing your contract.

2 official transcripts showing your degree has been awarded. The Maryland State Department of Education also requires the submission of 2 official transcripts from all other colleges and universities attended. This includes all community colleges. Candidates with degrees from foreign universities must present an original copy of their course-by-course evaluation.

Three (3) professional references (if not already submitted)

Official verification of previous full-time teaching experience from all school(s) or school system(s) in which you taught. Verification is to be submitted using the BCPSS verification form. Click here to download a copy of the Verification of Employment Form. This form is used to set salary and for certification purposes.

Copy of Department of Defense DD Form 214 - Verification of Military Service (if applicable)

Official letter verifying teaching-related Peace Corps service (if applicable)

You must also bring the following documents with you to your employment appointment:

Original social security card

$50 check or money order made out to the Baltimore City Public School System to cover fingerprinting.

Foreign teachers must bring a copy of their visa or work authorization

Q. I will graduate in December. When should I submit my application?

A. The Baltimore City Public School System accepts applications all year. Many teachers choose to retire in January and unforeseen resignations occur during the first semester. Therefore, positions in all areas usually become available. If you will be graduating in December, you should submit your application in late October or early November. Applications must include 2 official copies of college transcripts. Although you will be unable to provide a final transcript, you must submit one showing all courses completed and those in progress.

Q. I have a professional teaching certificate from another state. Will Maryland recognize my certificate?

A. Maryland will accept your certificate if: it is a valid professional teaching certificate in the area of assignment and has an effective date that is prior to the official start date of the BCPSS school year and you provide verification that tests were required and passed in order to receive the certificate. For further information on Maryland certification requirements, please consult the Maryland State Department of Education web site: www.msde.state.md.us or call 410-767-0412.

Q. I have not taken the PRAXIS exams. However, I have taken other state certification exams. Will Maryland accept these exams in lieu of the PRAXIS?

A. Maryland will accept other state certification exams as long as you hold a valid professional teaching certificate with an effective date that is prior to the official start date of the BCPSS school year. If you do not meet the aforementioned requirement, you may be required to take the PRAXIS exams needed for Maryland certification.

For additional information on the PRAXIS Series call 609-771-7395 or go to www.ets.org/praxis.

Q. Does the BCPSS offer a signing bonus?

A. The Baltimore City Public School System has established a dynamic incentive package for classroom teachers accepting teaching positions for the 07-08 school year. A new teacher may qualify for one, two, three or ALL of the incentive packages being offered up to a total of $12,000. All teachers accepting an incentive bonus are expected to attend monthly new teacher training and commit to two years of service with the BCPSS. Click here to view the incentive packages.

Q. Does the Maryland State Department of Education offer any bonuses?

A. Beginning classroom teachers, who graduate from an institution of higher education between December and September immediately prior to the academic year of employment, with appropriate grade point average (GPA) and a position as a teacher in the BCPSS are eligible for a $1,000 signing bonus from the Maryland State Department of Education.

These classroom teachers must be new to the profession of teaching and hold or are eligible to hold a certificate issued by the Maryland State Department of Education. To receive the bonus, teachers must have a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent.

Those classroom teachers who receive a signing bonus must remain employed in the school system for a minimum of three consecutive years. Failure to remain employed for three consecutive years requires the recipient to reimburse the State of Maryland in the amount of $1,000.

For additional information on teacher incentives offered by the state of Maryland, go to http://www.nbpts.org/about/stateinfo.cfm?state=Maryland

Q. Does the BCPSS offer tuition assistance?

A. The BCPSS offers an excellent tuition assistance package. Teachers may avail themselves of tuition reimbursement once they become full time teachers. The BCPSS offers up to 75% for coursework leading to a Master’s degree and up to 50% for coursework beyond the Master’s degree. Reimbursement is paid for courses taken by teachers up to and including twelve (12) credits per school year in an educational field or an approved related field.

Colleges and universities in the greater Baltimore metropolitan area include: Johns Hopkins University, Loyola College in Maryland, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Towson University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, Goucher College, Sojourner-Douglass College, University of Maryland at Baltimore, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Baltimore, McDaniel College, and Vila Julie College.

Click here http://www.baltimorecollegetown.org/asp/home.asp for additional information about colleges and universities located in Baltimore.

Colleges and universities in the Washington D.C. area include: University of Maryland College Park, George Washington University, Georgetown University, American University, Catholic University, Howard University, Trinity College and the University of the District of Columbia

Q. Does the BCPSS offer assistance to candidates who wish to visit Baltimore?

A. Unfortunately, the BCPSS does not have the ability to assist candidates in making travel arrangements to visit Baltimore. There are numerous internet sites that can provide prospective visitors with great information on how to get to Baltimore, what to do and see, and where to stay.

Below are some sites that can help you plan your visit.

Getting to Baltimore

http://www.bwiairport.com/

http://www.baltimorecollegetown.org/asp/transportation.asp

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Station/Station_Page&code=BAL

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Maryland/Baltimore-797112/Transportation-Baltimore-Amtrak_Commuter_Rail-BR-1.html

Staying in Baltimore

http://www.baltimore.to/

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501943-baltimore_vacations-i

http://baltimore.hotelscheap.org/

http://cityguide.aol.com/baltimore/dining/?sem=1&ncid=AOLACG00170000000006

About Baltimore

http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/visitor/

http://www.baltimore.org/

http://www.baltimorehotelandtravel.info/

http://www.southbaltimore.com/

Q. Does BCPSS offer assistance in finding housing for out-of-state teachers coming to Baltimore?

A. The BCPSS does not have an office to provide relocation assistance. However, there are numerous web sites that provide information on relocation. Please consult any of the following sites:

www.aptrent.com www.aptsrvcs.com www.apartmentguide.com
www.livebaltimore.com www.cityspin.com www.baltimore.org

Q. I have student loans. Am I eligible for loan forgiveness if I teach in BCPSS?

A. Yes, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness or cancellation if you teach in the BCPSS and have one of the following type loans:

Federal Perkins Loans. If you have a Federal Perkins Loan, you may be eligible for loan cancellation for full-time teaching. For additional information go to: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.html

Federal Family Education Loan(FFEL)/William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) deferment and cancellation provisions. If you have a FFEL or Direct Loan, you may be eligible for deferment if you are teaching full time in a teacher shortage area. The FFEL Program comprises Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Consolidation Loans, and loans offered in earlier years through the Guaranteed Student Loan Program. The Direct Loan Program comprises Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, and Federal Direct Consolidation Loans. If you took out your first Federal Stafford Loan or Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan after October 1,1998, you may be eligible for cancellation for teacher service.

For more information about targeted teaching deferments for the FFEL Program, consult your loan promissory note and contact the organization holding your loan. Direct Loan borrowers should contact the Direct Servicing Center at 1-800-848-0979.

Q. I do not have a degree in education. Does BCPSS consider applicants with other degrees?

A. Although the BCPSS seeks candidates with education degrees, it recognizes that individuals with content area degrees (Math, Science, English, History, Foreign Languages etc.) who desire to teach should be considered and given an opportunity. In collaboration with the BCPSS, three alternative certification programs allow non-education majors to teach while working towards their certification.

For additional information go to www.bcteachingresidency.org

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