Woman showing a book to a man.
Friends School logo

Friends School

About

Friends School is an independent, non-profit school in Boulder, Colo. that serves preschool, elementary and middle school students. We are committed to educating the whole child—head, hand and heart—and to training exceptional teachers for tomorrow’s classrooms. We provide a strong academic foundation while developing creative expression and nurturing a passion for learning. Our students gain a deep understanding of themselves and are inspired to act with compassion and integrity. Friends School is home to a renowned Teacher Preparation Program (TPP). The Friends TPP is an alternative teacher licensure program, designated through the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to prepare teachers for licensure in Elementary Education or Early Childhood Education. We partner with more than 12 regional schools—public, charter and independent—to offer a wide variety of teaching placement options for aspiring teachers. In addition, Friends TPP partners with the University of Colorado Denver to offer an optional Master’s Degree in Learning, Developmental and Family Sciences in conjunction with the teacher preparation program.

  • Government/Nonprofit organization
  • Boulder, CO

Institution Links

  • Admissions
  • Online Application
Amanda Fox

Through the Friends Teacher Preparation Program, you are able to get a true sense of life as a classroom teacher. The format of the program naturally invites connection between your Monday-Thursday life in the classroom with best practices and pedagogy taught in Saturday seminars, enriching your learning, as well as that of your students.

Amanda Fox, Alumni

Friends School logo

Licensure/Alternative Licensure only

Friends School Teacher Preparation Program

  • 10 months

    Program Duration

  • In-person, Online, Hybrid

    Program Format

  • Pre-Test Required

    Yes

Relevant Links

Program Info

Friends School offers a unique Teacher Preparation Program to aspiring teachers that will enable them to attain a Colorado Teaching License as well as an optional Master’s degree in education through our partnership with the University of Colorado Denver. The program integrates mindfulness for teachers, trauma-informed practices, social emotional learning, and culturally responsive pedagogy. 

This highly regarded graduate-level program offers two tracks depending on a candidate’s needs. Teachers can be employed in a school as an assistant or paraeducator or complete the unpaid residency track and be placed with a mentor teacher. Coursework is a mix of in person, Zoom, and asynchronous content to make it accessible to paraeducators as well as candidates interested in the residency model. All teacher candidates will engage in a year of hands-on classroom teaching experience in their chosen field experience option: Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Elementary Education. Candidates can also follow steps upon program completion to add a Secondary Education Endorsement in Math, Social Studies, Science, English or another subject to their initial license.

Upcoming Deadlines

  • Deadlines

    Program Start

  • Rolling Deadline

    Fall
  • Rolling Deadline

    Winter
  • Rolling Deadline

    Spring
  • Rolling Deadline

    Summer
Loading...

Get Deadline Reminders

Application Fee & Annual Tuition

Learn how to get$100 Back
and apply for a$1000 Scholarship

  • $10,400

    In State Tuition

  • $0

    Application Fee

Ways to Lower Your Costs

Students at Friends School have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with Friends School to see if you can, too!

Amount
Description

$4,475 - $8,950

Grants, Stipends, Scholarships

The Carol Kitzinger Scholarship is awarded to teaching candidates who show exceptional potential as teachers and who have unmet financial need. To be eligible, applicants must apply for the scholarship by following the instructions on the Friends TPP webiste.

Grants, Stipends, Scholarships

Candidates who are employed by a public school can apply for the Educator Recruitment and Retention Grant through the Colorado Department of Education, which pays for teacher preparation program tuition.

$22,000

Grants, Stipends, Scholarships

Candidates who demonstrate financial need and complete the residency model are eligible to receive a state stipend of $22,000 through HB22-1220.

Work Study, Working While Still Enrolled

If a candidate is placed with one of our select independent school partners, they could be eligible to have a portion or the entirety of the Friends TPP costs covered! Because of this added benefit, these spots are highly competitive and do require some additional interview components as the school sees fit. If interested in this option, we encourage candidates to apply by the Priority Deadline and let the program staff know of your interest.

Applicants also have the option to pursue and secure their own paid placement/position for the program year as long as it is approved by the Friends TPP and your host school administrator. 

Licensure Areas

Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Education (Birth-3)
Elementary Education Elementary Education (K-6)

Stats

Gender
  • Male

  • Female


    29%

    71%

Ethnicity
  • American Indian or Alaskan Native

  • Asian

  • Black

  • Hispanic/Latino

  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

  • White

  • Two or more races


    0%

    19%

    4%

    0%

    0%

    77%

    0%

Get Started

Own the application process. Start a checklist to put yourself on track to becoming the best teacher you can be.