TEACHER-LEADER COHORT
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
As a new institution, is The National Teachers College authorized?
Yes. The National Teachers College is authorized by the Ohio Department of Higher Education and has been operational since 2021.
The National Teachers College adheres to the standards and requirements of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, the national accreditor for teacher preparation programs: AAQEP (Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation), and to the standards for national institutional accreditation: ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges).
Those of us who came together to found the college did so to provide the institutional autonomy to carry out our programs with less bureaucracy and more funding directed to the quality of our programs. Faculty and administrators of TNTC were previously employed at institutions such as Case Western Reserve University, John Carroll University, Cleveland State University, Kent State University, Ursuline College, Hiram College, Notre Dame College, and Myers University.
Are these programs new?
No. Our programs are not new. They are based on decades of work with site-based, apprenticeship, residency models (now our CAP Program) and on our work with teachers in our partner schools seeking advanced education through an M.Ed. degree (our Fellows Program). They represent proven, successful models that we brought to TNTC.
What is special about this program?
Traditional seat-based and online programs abound. We wanted to do something different - and with our own College, we could.
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Our Fellows Programs are cohort-based, intentionally small to facilitate relational learning. We place quality over quantity.
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We tailor our core curriculum to reflect the students in the room - taking your contexts of teaching, your goals, interests and challenges into account.
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Our curriculum allows you to choose a focus area to strengthen knowledge in an area of interest.
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In-person classes enable you to learn alongside a cohort of educators – sharing ideas, strategies, and growth in a way that online programs simply can’t replicate.
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The program evolves through faculty collaboration with the cohort itself – creating a graduate experience that is relevant and engaging.
Who is eligible to enroll?
Viable candidates must have an undergraduate degree, B.A. or B.S., from an accredited institution of higher education and meet application requirements. To be eligible for this cohort, applicants must be currently employed as an educator.
Where are classes taught?
Classes are either held at our College Headquarters located at 113th and Shaker Boulevard, Cleveland - or on-site, in on one of the K-12 schools where cohort participants work. Locations may rotate by semester to provide more convenience to participants.
Is there an application deadline?
Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis until the cohort of 15 has been filled, or until August 1, 2026.
When does the program begin?
The TNTC Teacher-Leader Cohort Program for 2026 begins in September 2026 - typically the first week. The exact date will be communicated to students enrolled in the cohort.
Is the program full- or part-time?
The Fellows Programs are part-time and scheduled to accommodate working teachers. Classes meet one evening a week during the fall and spring semesters (agreed upon by the cohort) and 3 weeks each summer.
How long does it take and how much does it cost?
This is a two-year, part-time program. Tuition is $575 per credit hour. The tuition for the 32 credit hour program is $18,400. Tuition is reduced to $13,400 for those receiving the $5,000 scholarship. Books and materials are included with the tuition.
Are scholarships or financial aid available?
The College is offering several $5,000 scholarships for this cohort, reducing the tuition for the two-year, M.Ed. program to $13,400. Priority for awarding the scholarship is given to those who apply by June 15, 2026.
Payment plans are available for 24, 36 and 48 month schedules.
The College does not participate in government loan programs, but has formed affiliations with lending institutions in Cleveland for access to educational loans. These banking institutions provide these loans at lower interest rates to credit-worthy borrowers.
Interested?
Complete the form, send an email or give us a call for more information.
We'll get back to you right away!
info@thenationalteacherscollege.org
216-382-8343