Student Supports
In collaboration with a variety of partners, the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education offers structured support to teacher candidates as they pursue an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL). These “structured supports” begin as early as the summer after high school and provide academic, social and financial support through student teaching and the initial years of employment.
Learn more about our innovative supports by clicking on the links below which will redirect you to that section and all of the links that are available throughout this website.
Pathways for All Undergraduates
Pathways for First-Generation Undergraduates
Chicago Public School Pathways
GCOE Appeal for Emergency Tuition Assistance
Pathways for All Undergraduates
Future Teachers Living Learning Community
The Future Teachers Living Learning Community is designed for transfer students who are entering Northeastern in order to earn a teaching degree. Over the course of an entire academic year, students interact with and learn from peers, community partners and alumni. They also participate in school-based service projects, engage in professional development activities, and meet Goodwin College of Education faculty and Chicago area teachers and school administrators. More information can be obtained by clicking on the link above or by contacting Dr. Kimberly Maljak, Coordinator, at k-maljak@neiu.edu.
College of Arts and Sciences Education Program
The College of Arts and Sciences Education Program (CASEP) is a learning community for first- and second-year undergraduate students who are interested in becoming teachers. It combines general education courses and early field experiences with discussion and feedback about teaching as a career. Cohorts start each fall and students take courses that are content linked and/or co-taught by faculty. They also may participate in service learning or part-time employment opportunities in educational settings. More information can be obtained by clicking on the link above or by contacting Jeremy Babcock, Coordinator, at j-babcock@neiu.edu.
Pathways for First-Generation Undergraduates
Grow Your Own Teachers
Grow Your Own Teachers (GYO-IL) is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and preparing racially diverse, community-connected individuals to become licensed teachers—particularly for high-need urban and rural schools facing chronic shortages and a lack of educator diversity.
The program delivers comprehensive support to teacher candidates from underrepresented backgrounds who show a strong commitment to equity, excellence, and diversity. This includes:
- Social and academic guidance
- Career development
- Financial assistance (such as forgivable loans tied to teaching service in priority schools)
New cohorts are welcomed each semester, with engaging activities and support continuing throughout the academic year.
For more details about the program, eligibility, or the application process—including the Forgivable Loan Program and Diverse Male Teacher Initiative—visit the official website at growyourownteachers.org or contact Luis Meza, Candidate Coordinator, at lmeza@gyo-il.org.
To learn more about admission to Northeastern Illinois University's Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education Grow Your Own Teachers program, please contact Cindy L. Jones, Outreach Coordinator at gcoeoutreach@neiu.edu.
TRIO - Student Support Services Teacher Preparation Program
The Student Support Services Teacher Preparation Program (SSS Teacher Prep) is a federally funded program designed to promote learning, personal development and retention. It provides free support to undergraduate students at NEIU who are first generation or income eligible and planning to earn a teaching degree. SSS Teacher Prep provides students with enhanced academic and personal support, including test preparation; academic tutoring; career planning; academic advising; mentorship; counseling; and exposure to cultural events and graduate degree programs. More information can be obtained by clicking on the link above or by contacting Dr. Christina Matuschka, Assistant Director of TRIO Student Support Services, at c-matuschka@neiu.edu.
Chicago Public School Pathways
Organized and led by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the Teach Chicago Tomorrow Program provides four years of social, academic, career and financial supports to Chicago Public Schools high school graduates who plan to become licensed teachers and who enroll at Northeastern immediately after high school or as transfer students from the City Colleges of Chicago. New cohorts are inducted each summer and activities take place throughout the academic year. More information can be obtained by clicking on the link above or by contacting Arthur Dennis, Recruitment Specialist, at ajdennis2@cps.edu.
Selective Pathways
Golden Apple Scholars Program in Illinois
The Golden Apple Scholars Program in Illinois is a teacher preparation and tuition assistance program for high school seniors and freshman and sophomore Illinois college students who have the determination and drive to be highly effective teachers in Illinois schools-of-need. Scholars receive up to $23,000 in total financial assistance, inclusive of paid Scholar Institutes. They also receive extensive classroom teaching experience, academic and social-emotional support, job placement assistance and mentorship. More information can be obtained by clicking on the link above or by contacting Dr. Bill Kondellas, Faculty Liaison, at v-kondellas@neiu.edu.
Kappa Delta Pi National Honor Society
Kappa Delta Pi is America’s largest and most prestigious educational honor society. It was founded in 1911 at the University of Illinois and continues today as a support to future educators who are academically successful, committed to excellence in education, and dedicated to teacher fellowship. More information can be obtained by clicking on the link above and by contacting Dr. Bill Kondellas, Faculty Liaison, at v-kondellas@neiu.edu.
Apprenticeship Programs
In partnership with the Chicago Public Schools, the Goodwin College of Education offers two interconnected apprenticeship pathways designed to launch your teaching career in the city of Chicago. The Fantástico Pre-Apprenticeship Program serves as a strategic entry point for first- and second-year college students. It provides subsidized summer coursework and comprehensive wrap-around academic support to build a strong foundation for a career in urban teaching. Thereafter, the NEIU-CPS Teacher Apprenticeship Program provides teacher candidates in high-need areas such as Bilingual Elementary Education, Special Education, Physical Education, and Early Childhood Education with paid clinical experiences ($20 per hour) and a full year of paid student teaching ($22 per hour. By providing tuition support and paid, hands-on teacher preparation experiences, these programs remove the financial barriers to educator licensure and create a direct, supported pipeline into full-time teaching positions within the Chicago Public Schools.
Content Exam Preparation
The Goodwin College of Education provides a comprehensive portfolio of resources to assist teacher candidates pass the ILTS content exams that are required for teacher licensure. These resources are accessible from the moment that candidates declare their major and can be found in D2L, the learning management software used by course instructors and students. To access the GCOE Content Exam Prep site in D2L, take these two steps:
- Log onto D2L and find the GCOE–Content Exam Prep course under the My NEIU Courses heading. Click on GCOE-Content Exam Prep to be directed to the Course Announcements page. You will find valuable information in the Course Announcements regarding test deadlines.
- Next, click the Content tab. This will bring you to a series of modules. Click the Start Here tab. The Start Here module will provide you with contact information for the Content Area Test Prep Coaches, their roles and responsibilities, and information regarding the other modules available to support you.
In addition to the resources available on D2L, the Goodwin College of Education provides free ILTS Content Exam workshops for enrolled students during the fall, spring and summer semesters. The workshops take place on Zoom and are designed to provide strategies and other supports for successfully completing the ILTS exams required for teacher licensure in Illinois. Registration takes place at the start of every semester. Register for the upcoming semester of workshops. For more information, email Dr. Jo Ann Karr at jkarr@neiu.edu.
If you have questions about NEIU content exam support, please reach out to our Content Test Coaches, Angie Maglaris at a-maglaris@neiu.edu and Mary Bortz at m-bortz@neiu.edu.
Childcare
Northeastern Illinois University’s Child Care Center is dedicated to providing the children of students, faculty and staff of Northeastern and the surrounding community with loving care and a high-quality early childhood education.
The Child Care Center is managed by the Goodwin College of Education and provides a laboratory situation where students can receive practical, guided experience in working with young children in toddler, preschool, kindergarten and summer child care programs. For more information, contact Christina Hidaka, Director, at c-hidaka@neiu.edu.
GCOE Student Appeal for Emergency Tuition Assistance
Goodwin College of Education students who are in need of funding for emergency tuition assistance must complete an online application and provide relevant supporting documentation.
A GCOE Committee will review applications and make decisions based on the criteria below.
Eligibility Requirements
- Current GCOE majors and programs, regardless of immigration status, who are currently enrolled or trying to enroll in classes for an upcoming semester.
- Students must be in good academic standing, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for undergraduate students, and 3.0 for graduate students.
- Students must thoroughly explain how they have exhausted all other possible financial resources (such as applying for student loans, scholarships, and other revenue opportunities).
- Students must provide sufficient documentation of financial need (such as a 'Student Payment Services hold' on their account that is preventing them from registering for classes; or an unpaid student tuition bill). The documentation should be uploaded as a screenshot or a PDF, with the image showing the date and the student’s name.
Decisions regarding disbursement of funds are made on a case-by-case basis and amounts are based on eligibility, documentation of need, and availability of funds. Due to limited funds, first-time applicants, and applicants nearing program completion are prioritized. Returning applicants will be considered based on availability of funds. Students' dispositions will be also taken into consideration when deciding the awards. Applicants may be asked to meet with the GCOE committee to discuss their application.
To apply, please complete the application: GCOE Student Appeal for Emergency Tuition Assistance.