In 2002, K-12 Teachers Alliance (KTA) began a simple conversation with Concordia University Chicago (CUC) to bring its graduate and certificate programs to the KTA community. That conversation turned into a two-decade partnership that led CUC to become a premier provider of graduate programs for Illinois educators.
It is with great enthusiasm that KTA announces the continuation of our successful partnership with CUC to its amazing 20th year, a testament to our mutual commitment to enhancing the K-12 educator career.
Unlocking High-Quality, Affordable Education for Educators
The core of the KTA-CUC partnership is its dedication to solving the financial and logistical challenges educators face when pursuing advanced degrees. By collaborating, KTA and CUC have built a pathway for thousands of Illinois teachers to achieve their professional goals:
The Power of the Alliance Cohort and Real Savings
Teachers shouldn't have to carry the enormous financial burden of continuing their professional development. KTA's model of aggregating educators into Alliance Cohorts, groups seeking the same programs, creates a strong collective force that can demand a far better tuition rate than an individual could ever get.
- This model has enabled CUC to provide programs that are more economically viable for educators.
- KTA has a proven history of successfully negotiating real discounts, sometimes up to 50% off of the normal university tuition rates for members of our group. The more educators join together, the better the tuition rates become for all.
Assurance of Program Quality and Relevance
KTA eliminates the uncertainty and confusion surrounding choosing an advanced degree program. Our rigorous evaluation process identifies and selects universities, like CUC, that genuinely dedicate themselves to providing graduate programs to busy, working educators.
- CUC's programs are selected to support your professional development.
- The programs are designed to equip educators with the most current instructional strategies and best practices that they can implement immediately.
- KTA does all the research on programs, connecting with universities like CUC to find the best program provider, which includes high-quality programs and competitive tuition rates.
Data-Driven Solutions for Teacher Needs
KTA’s Needs Analysis Process ensures that the programs offered by CUC directly meet the opportunities and shortages that exist in districts across the state. This process works from the top-down, engaging with district leaders and principals and gathering Teacher-Focused Intelligence to identify the most relevant programs and formats desired by educators.
Dr. Thomas Jandris, former Dean of the College of Graduate and Innovative Programs, acknowledged the value of this teacher-focused intelligence:
“We are incredibly proud of our achievements and the work we’ve done with the K-12 Teachers Alliance,” said Dr. Jandris. “Because of their relationship with individual educators, KTA is able to forecast the future needs of potential students.”
Full Support, From Inquiry to Graduation
KTA’s commitment to educators doesn’t end with securing a discount; we provide comprehensive support throughout the entire academic journey.
- CUC and KTA have led the way in offering flexible and convenient education, including programs that are completely online, hybrid, or through a local off-campus cohort model, designed to fit a working educator’s busy schedule24.
- KTA provides a unique level of support, assigning a dedicated Student Service Representative to assist students from the initial inquiry through to graduation.
- KTA does all the research on programs and connects with universities like CUC to find the best providers, which includes high-quality programs and competitive tuition rates.
A Nationwide Network of Support
The success seen with CUC has spread to KTA’s other university partners, allowing KTA to serve educators throughout the country. This network is dedicated to finding the best possible programs at a price teachers can afford.
KTA works with 18 universities, some of which include:
- Concordia University Irvine, serving KTA educators throughout California
- CSP Global, serving KTA educators throughout Minnesota
- University of St. Joseph, serving KTA educators throughout Connecticut
- Point Park University, serving KTA educators throughout Pennsylvania
- Gardner-Webb University, serving KTA educators throughout North Carolina
The K-12 Teachers Alliance is dedicated to ensuring educators receive the quality education and personal support required to achieve success. The partnership with CUC exemplifies the impact of teachers taking back their power as a group to secure a smart investment in their own future.