Credential Programs
Teacher Residency Programs
Fresno State offers nationally recognized residencies in partnership with school districts across the Central Valley, which prepare the next generation of educators through robust hands-on work.
About the Residencies
Teacher residency programs are intensive preservice preparation where residents join and contribute to the school community from day one and continue throughout their teacher preparation. The residency model combines rigorous (Master’s Degree-level) coursework, teacher credentialing coursework and in-classroom apprenticeship to prepare graduates to directly impact the needs of Central Valley schools.
Benefits and Impact
Evidence shows that upon graduation, residents in their first year of teaching perform like second-year teachers, greatly enhancing the career trajectories of our students. Read more about the program benefits and offerings below:
- Residents are partnered with a 'Faculty-in-Residence' and a 'Teacher-in-Residence' and are supported by a comprehensive professional development curriculum.
- Residents receive special perks, including guaranteed employment upon program completion and access to district professional development, technologies and paid sub days.
- Residents are fully immersed in the full-day classroom experience during the year-long placement and gather deep knowledge of school district culture, expectations and needs.
Programs Across the Central Valley
Deep Collaborations with Schools and Districts
A residency model would not be possible without the deep collaboration and dedicated partnerships between Fresno State and local schools districts. Fresno State faculty work hand-in-hand with the school districts to detect what the district’s specific needs are. They focus on the assets of the school community and through co-planning, develop a curriculum that is directly responsive to the district’s needs. This method allows school districts to address the teacher shortage by creating their own pipelines of teachers - “growing our own”.
The residency model sets up our district to hire well-prepared teachers that embody
our goals, beliefs and culture for years to come.
– Associate Superintendent, Sanger Unified School District
Nationally Recognized for Teacher Preparation
- How Residency Programs are Organizing Mentor Teacher Professional Learning During Distance Learning - WestEd, January 2021
- Three Perspectives on Launching a Residency From California State University, Fresno - National Center for Teacher Residencies, September 2017
- A School District’s Perspective on Launching a Residency - National Center for Teacher Residencies, September 2017
- Rethinking Teacher Preparation - Empowering Local Schools to Solve California’s Teacher Shortage and Better Develop Teachers - Bellwether Education Partners, July 2015
- Clinically Oriented Teacher Preparation - Urban Teacher Residency United, June 2015