[quote=carli]Funny that everyone is assuming he’ll do something related to his degree. I was an English major, and the furthest thing from my mind was becoming a teacher. I realize times have changed but industries are not so specific these days that there won’t be room for a go-getter with a sociology degree to make a way for himself in many different areas.
Also, BG, although he may end up in SoCal someday, I don’t think his priority is to make a life for himself around here. It’s to go out and experience the world. I spent most of my career (and his childhood) in NYC, as an English major with a lucrative career in executive sales management, and who knows, he could end up following a similar path, even with a sociology degree.[/quote]I just saw the “social justice platform” of UCLA’s “Center X” and thought it would appeal to him. I checked and it IS expensive (~32K for 2 years, incl course mat’ls). However, even if someone had to borrow the $32K to complete the program, they could take out a Federal Direct Student Loan or Stafford Loan because they would most certainly be able to get a local teaching gig from this prestigious program, possibly even at the school they did their student-teaching at. I didn’t realize that LAUSD had many non-certified and/or non-credentialed teachers (due to lack of credentialed applicants?) and were hurting for credentialed teachers. Once ensconced in a permanent teaching job in the fall after graduation, the new teacher’s student loan payments would begin. They could then immediately apply for (and receive) an affordable payment in the “Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.”
The new teacher would need to make those monthly payments on time for just ten years (120 payments) and the balance their Federal student loan(s) (of up to $17,500) would be forgiven, due to accepting and working in a K-12 teaching position.
If the new teacher decides to accept a teaching position in a public school with a mostly “underserved” population and/or teaches certain needed subjects, they can be eligible for a SL payment deferment AND an eventual full cancellation (100%) in just five years of a Federal Perkins Loan taken out to obtain their credential!
What amount can be canceled?
If you are eligible for cancellation under any of the categories listed above, up to 100 percent of the loan may be canceled for teaching service, in the following increments:
15 percent canceled per year for the first and second years of service
20 percent canceled for the third and fourth years
30 percent canceled for the fifth year
Each amount canceled per year includes the interest that accrued during the year.
I can see why so many CA teaching-credential candidates are trying to get thru the program in 12-18 months at National University, Pt Loma Nazarene and some of the other private credentialing institutions. They are expensive but the candidate earns one class per month and is placed in a student-teacher gig after their first 12 mos in the program. These teacher-candidates, even if low income, can borrow the money and be guaranteed a low, manageable repayment plan for ten years, with the balance forgiven. My kids’ Elem and HS District hired SEVERAL teachers for my kids’ public schools from Nat’l University’s credentialing program who student taught at my kids’ schools. Some of them were themselves graduates of a HS in the District or even the same school as they student-taught in!
UCLA’s public school teaching program looks very interesting. I like the platform. If we could just get rid of “common core” (not in place when my own kids were in school) and replace it with methods that “fit” the particular student population (as it always was and should be), teachers and schools would be a lot more successful with student outcomes, IMO.
