Relay Graduate School of Education

In 2011, Relay became the first standalone graduate school of education to receive approval to operate in New York State in over 80 years.

New York is home to the largest public school district in the country, has one of the most diverse populations in the world, and offers unparalleled attractions. Relay New York currently offers the following programs: Relay Teaching Residency, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Advanced Certificate in Special Education.

At Relay, our staff members strive to exemplify our core values. We work with urgency to serve our graduate students. We understand that this work requires grit as we strive toward our ambitious goals. We take responsibility for our roles in the institution’s success, and we do this work with respect, showing a genuine curiosity to learn from others’ perspectives. We know that we will only succeed in our mission by leveraging teamwork and embedding equity in all aspects of our work as an institution.

Relay’s mission is to teach teachers and school leaders to develop in all students the academic skills and strength of character needed to succeed in college and life. Our vision is to become the place where a new generation of continuously-improving, mission-driven individuals can fulfill their destiny in the world’s greatest profession.Relay was founded by a group of innovative practitioners who had a bold vision for a new kind of teacher preparation, grounded in their day-to-day experiences in the classroom. Today, we continue to explore new opportunities to expand our impact on PK-12 education and make meaningful contributions to the field of higher education. Through purposeful collaborations with local public schools and other leaders in the field, we are achieving innovation at scale, and informing new models of excellence in educator preparation and development.

Relay is partnering with San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) to provide focused support to a district elementary school. More specifically, Relay will recruit and prepare a cohort of teaching residents who will work with mentor teachers at their school and study at Relay to gain their teaching certification and Master of Arts in Teaching. Relay will also offer professional development support to experienced teachers and school leaders.

Relay is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), recognized by the United States Department of Education as an accrediting agency for institutions of higher education. Relay also has program accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

From 2007-2011, Relay operated a program called Teacher U in partnership with Hunter College with a goal of creating a new kind of teacher preparation program. Teacher U began with three dozen graduate students and grew into a master’s degree program preparing 250 district and charter public school teachers.

Relay offers several programs ranging from two weeks to two years. Our offerings include master’s degrees and certification programs for teachers and teaching residents, fellowships for principals and school leaders, unique opportunities for college students to explore teaching, and online courses for members of the public. Visit our audience pages to learn more about Relay programs.

Relay’s curriculum varies by program, but all of our programs emphasize frequent practice and feedback. Most assignments consist of authentic work samples of graduate students’ educational practice, including videos of teaching instruction or teacher coaching, lesson plan samples, assessment samples, etc.

At Relay, we focus every aspect of the graduate school experience on what it takes to propel student learning in the classroom. For our teaching programs, we organize coursework around four elements of effective instruction: Content, Classroom Culture, Self and Other People, and the Teaching Cycle.

During the first year of Relay master's programs, graduate students learn the basics of how to build relationships with students, families, and colleagues, as well as fundamentals in classroom management, lesson planning, and assessment design. In the second year, graduate students broaden their knowledge by focusing on unit planning and incorporating literacy across content areas. They also learn specific techniques that help them build rigorous and joyful classrooms — the kind of learning environments that encourage both academic achievement and character development

Like great athletes or artists, teachers become excellent at their craft through experience and practice. Deliberate practice — a focus on the concrete and specific teaching skills necessary to maximize impact in the classroom — is a cornerstone of all Relay programs, and especially the Relay Teaching Residency program.

Residents participate in weekly 3-to-4-hour practice sessions to develop and perfect their teaching skills. These practice sessions complement and support Relay master’s classes. For example, you might practice responding to common student misconceptions. Then, you would receive expert feedback, apply that feedback, and do it again to build your skills.

Graduate students in some states (e.g., New York) may be required to take the GRE exam. All graduate students enrolled in alternate route certification programs are required to take and pass state-specific certification exams in order to maintain enrollment at Relay. In some cases, you may be required to provide proof of having passed those exams before you can be enrolled at Relay.

All Relay graduate students are required to be employed by a partner school. Graduate students who lose their employment will have one month to regain employment (if enrolled in a teaching program, the new position must be in a subject and grade that matches their Relay major and certification area). If they do not find another position as a teacher or school leader, they will have to take a leave of absence or will be exited from Relay’s program.

Relay is committed to ensuring that programs are affordable for all graduate students—especially those teaching in high-needs schools. Tuition varies from program to program. Most Graduate students receive institutional aid from Relay, and many qualify for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to reduce the cost of tuition. Students enrolled in degree-granting programs may apply for federal financial aid, and all students are eligible to apply for payment plans. For tuition information, read our program descriptions or contact Student Financial Services.