Accelerated Course to Teaching (ACT) Cohort
Are you interested in positively impacting under-resourced communities in Western New York? Have you considered a career in education? We seek applicants for our ACT cohort who are interested in working toward equity in the educational experiences afforded to students in Western New York.
ACT Program Benefits
- Earn initial teacher certification in childhood education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), or an adolescence education (grades 7-12) content area in 16 months.
- Receive $25,000 in tuition support and a $12,500 stipend for living expenses.
- Become eligible for additional transportation and dependent care stipends.
- Co-teach alongside a mentor teacher in a high-need partner district for one school year.
- Engage in rigorous and relevant coursework that is integrated with classroom practice.
- Collaborate and build a community with a small cohort of residents, mentor teachers and university faculty who are committed to improving educational experiences in historically underserved communities.
Note: Previous education coursework is not required. To be eligible, you will need an undergraduate background in your intended content area.
Who Should Apply?
- Individuals who want to be transformational teachers
- College seniors and recent graduates who intend to teach
- Professionals looking to make a career change
Need More Information?
INFORMATION SESSION
If you have questions or are interested in learning more, please register for our informational webinar on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 6-7:00 PM.
Application Deadline
For this upcoming cycle, applications should be submitted by:
- Feb. 1 — priority deadline
- March 1 — if spots are still available