Temple Education Scholars (TES) is a year-long dual enrollment program designed for college-bound high school seniors to take up to 5 education courses at Temple University in a supportive environment. This program prepares students for future employment as educators within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While not all TES participants may ultimately pursue admission to Temple, a major in education, and/or a teaching career career as an educator, all will certainly benefit from the courses aofferings, peer relationships the relationships with peers, TES program staff, and Temple professors, and the experience of successfully completing up to five college courses.
Program Highlights
- Year-long program (mid-August through early June)
- Focused on a college and career pathway (teaching)
- Five (5) college education courses = 15 college credits = 1 full semester of college classes
- Prepares students for one of five (5) college majors: Early Childhood Education, Middle Grades Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, Human Development / Community Engagement or a Minor in Education
- Includes college readiness programming and application support
Student Expectations
- Commitment and daily attendance
- Communication/responsiveness and collegiality
- Positive outlook and attitude
- Willingness to learn, receive and offer feedback, ask for help, and work hard
- Professional and ethical behavior
Program Participation Criteria
- 12th-grade student (applying, typically, as an 11th grader)
- GPA of 3.0 or better
- Interest in education as a college major and career
- Strong attendance record
- Eligible for a modified high school roster
TES Application Instructions
School District of Philadelphia Students:
Current 11th-grade students attending the School District of Philadelphia high schools should apply to TES for the 2025-2026 school year via the Temple University College of Education and Human Development application. Students will also need to complete the district’s application through the Senior Year Only Program initiative. The SDP application for district students will be available on the district’s Senior Year Only Program (S.Y.O.P.) website February 24, 2025 to April 4, 2025. Students will be notified of their application status and acceptance no later than April 24, 2025.
Philadelphia Charter School Students:
Current 11th-grade students attending Philadelphia charter schools are able to apply now to participate in the TES program in 2025-2026! Go to the TES application or click the link below to submit your application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The final deadline for application submission is Friday, April 4th. All applicants will receive notification of admissions decisions on or before April 24th
Questions?
Philadelphia district and charter school students and their families with questions about the program can contact:
Rachel Gerberick
TES Program Manager
tes1@temple.edu
215-204-6406
All Other Students / Schools / Districts:
Please contact Dr. Juliet Curci, Assistant Dean of College Access and Persistence, for information about how your school/district can get involved with Temple Education Scholars!
Juliet Curci, PhD
Assistant Dean of College Access and Persistence Initiatives and Director of the Intergenerational Center
juliet.curci@temple.edu
215-204-2475
FAQs
How many college credits will TES Scholars receive?
Scholars have the opportunity to earn up to 15 credits (for taking up to 5 college classes)
How long does the Temple Education Scholars program run?
Mid-August through mid-June
How do you apply to become a TES Scholar?
Please see our “How to Apply” page for application links and updates
Are there any expenses associated with participation in the TES program that Scholars must pay?
No, at this time there are no expenses for Scholars from the School District of Philadelphia or Philadelphia charter schools who participate in the TES program. Students from other schools or districts would need to similarly be sponsored by their school or district in order to participate.
What supports are in place to aid TES Scholars in juggling high school and college courses at the same time?
A program coordinator and TU undergraduate and graduate student staff members provide tutoring, mentoring, and advising support to Scholars on a daily basis. The TES Tutor-Mentors can support Scholars in their high school and college coursework and the program coordinator will monitor Scholars’ progress in their Temple courses through contact with the course instructors. College Success Coaches are also in place to provide guidance to the Scholars regarding the college application, admissions, and financial aid processes as needed. The program coordinator will provide updates to school district personnel as well as parents/guardians. Study skills and college success workshops, as well as study halls, will also be offered regularly.
Will the credits TES Scholars receive at Temple count toward their high school GPA?
Yes, Temple course credits earned by School District of Philadelphia students will be included as arts and humanities or elective credits (on a 4.0 scale) on SDP transcripts. This information for Philadelphia charter school students will be determined by each individual school.
Will TES Scholars be able to work part-time or do extracurriculars while participating in TES?
There are no restrictions as to how Scholars spend their time outside of the school day; however, college coursework can be rigorous, and the need to balance the responsibilities of high school and college classes will limit time available for other activities and work. TES courses and programming run Monday through Friday throughout the school year (September through mid-June), and from 1:30-5:00 pm daily. The first course in the program begins in mid-August and programming then begins at 9am and runs until 4pm Monday through Friday.
Are TES Scholars guaranteed acceptance to Temple University upon completion of the program?
No, Scholars are not guaranteed acceptance to the university. Program staff is more than happy to provide letters of recommendation for Scholars who demonstrate success and growth during the program for Scholars’ applications to any universities to which they choose to apply.
Please direct any questions about the Temple Education Scholars program to Elijah Rhea (email: elijah.rhea@temple.edu) or Dr. Juliet Curci (email: juliet.curci@temple.edu).
You can find other college access and pre-college opportunities at the links below.
