The TIRP is operated by the Pikes Peak Board of Cooperative Educational Services (PPBOCES) and the College of Education, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. This alternative licensure program offers a unique "road to travel" to earn a Colorado Teacher License. The two-year program allows one to earn a salary while teaching in a classroom. Participants develop the knowledge and skills necessary to complete the program and concurrently earn a Colorado Teacher License. The cost of TIRP is affordable.
See "Fees".
To be admitted to the TIRP, candidates must:
take and pass the PLACE or PRAXIS II test in
his/her content area (mandatory before being recommended for a license at the
end of your two year program)
earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited
college or university. (24 credits must align with an area in which Colorado grants a Teacher License and a recommendation for licensure is submitted at the
end of your two year program)
secure a teaching position. (The TIRP office
assists with this task.)
pass a background check, including
fingerprinting
have a strong capacity to learn the
considerable skills of teaching while being a beginning teacher
Pay an initial fee of $1000.00 upon receiving
an employment contract as a teacher
The program:
is two years long, including a summer
session. (For the Special Ed Generalist Endorsement, two summer sessions are
required.)
begins in August and January
includes mentoring. Each resident teacher is
assigned a mentor and a field supervisor to support one's growth as a teacher.
includes classroom observation/supervision
activities. Each resident teacher will participate in 100 hours (or more)
of classroom observation/supervision activities each year and is recorded on
their time log.
includes a teacher education curriculum based
on the Performance-Based Standards for Colorado Teachers.
Participants are expected to attend all
classes. Classes are held on Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
successfully demonstrate each of the Performance-Based Standards for Colorado Teachers.
successfully complete all assignments from
the teacher education curriculum.
Pay all fees.
The TIRP is a field-based program for the mature learner. As such, it may be unsuitable for some people. On the other hand, it offers a "road less traveled" in the teacher education field and may "make all the difference" for YOU. Please call Lee (719-622-2081) in the TIRP office to get your additional questions answered.