Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is an official partner of Teach For America to provide funding for alumni. For more than 100 years, the Harvard Graduate School of Education has prepared talented, passionate individuals to become transformative leaders in education.
Founded in 1920, HGSE is an exceptional and collaborative community of faculty, students, staff, and alumni dedicated to improving lives and expanding opportunities through the comprehensive study and effective practice of education. Through its programs, HGSE cultivates innovative leaders and entrepreneurs, explores the most important questions in education, and shares groundbreaking ideas and best practices with the world.
Benefits for TFA alumni and corps members:
- Graduate Programs include residential and online Master’s in Education (Ed.M.) degrees, as well as Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) and Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Ph.D.) degrees.
- Professional Education Certificates include online, asynchronous learning pathways in Instructional Leadership (ILC), Early Education Leadership (CEEL), School Management and Leadership (CSML), and Advanced Education Leadership (CAEL).
Graduate Programs
Available to International Students, U.S. Citizens, and U.S. Permanent Residents
Available to full-time and part-time (online) Ed.M. Students
Exclusive to TFA alumni, HGSE will waive application fees for all TFA alumni* and provide TFA-affiliated applicants dedicated one-on-one and small group consultations.
Leadership in Education Fellowships are given to top Ed.M. degree candidates with strong leadership potential and demonstrated financial need as determined by the HGSE Financial Aid Office. Leadership in Education Fellowship recipients are given a fellowship close to one half of tuition during the one-year program. Preference is given to alumni of Teach for America.
The mission of the Harvard Graduate School of Education is to prepare education leaders and innovators who will change the world by expanding opportunities and outcomes for learners everywhere. To that end, HGSE offers degree programs that can accelerate one’s impact at all levels and across all roles in the education field. With exceptional faculty mentors, highly personalized degree plans, a lifelong network of innovative colleagues and friends, and a deep commitment to building a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, HGSE helps students pursue ambitious goals and establish an impactful, rewarding, and successful career in education.
View the HGSE Admissions Application Timeline & Requirements for application deadlines. If you would like to receive more information about HGSE programs and the admissions process, please be sure to fill out our Introduce Yourself form.
*TFA Alumni may have their application fees waived for all programs, with the exception of the Ph.D. (which is jointly administered by another Harvard school). To secure an application fee waiver, indicate TFA service when prompted within the application, submit the application, but do not pay the associated fee.
Professional Education Certificates
Teach for America has a longstanding tradition of providing professional support and leadership development for teachers, principals, superintendents, and other administrators. That’s why we are pleased to partner with Professional Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. TFA alumni and corps members who wish to participate in any of the four online asynchronous certificate programs are eligible for a 10% discount.
Professional Education is a vital part of the Harvard Graduate School of Education community. For over 50 years, they have met educators’ professional development needs through faculty-led programs grounded in the latest research. Harvard’s programs are designed to provide job-embedded learning and solutions that can be applied immediately to current problems of practice.
Exclusive to TFA Alumni: To earn your 10% discount, confirm your status as a TFA alumni or corps member using this verification form. Once we verify your status we will email you details on how to redeem your discount. You can choose from any or all eligible certificate programs: the Instructional Leadership Certificate (ILC), the Certificate in Early Education Leadership (CEEL), the Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML), and the Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership (CAEL). Browse the TFA Discount-Eligible Certificate Programs and choose the one that’s right for you.*
Instructional Leadership Certificate (ILC)
Price Per Module (before discount): $399
Modules in Certificate: 4 modules
Designed for: Teachers, teacher leaders, instructional coaches and department leads. Build skills to help you become a more effective teacher, leader, coach, and mentor and apply those new skills within your team or instructional department.
Certificate in Early Education Leadership (CEEL)
Price Per Module (before discount): $245
Modules in Certificate: 15 modules
Designed for: Early education directors, administrators, coaches, leaders, practitioners and advocates. Acquire the core knowledge, management skills, and leadership tools necessary to build and advance high-quality early education in any learning environment.
Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership (CAEL)
Price Per Module (before discount): $1,995
Modules in Certificate: 5 modules
Designed for: Superintendents, district-level administrators, experienced principals and teachers who aspire to system-level roles Based on the groundbreaking Doctor of Education Leadership program, the Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership (CAEL) provides current and aspiring system-level leaders with the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills while working to address current problems of practice.
Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML)
Price Per Course (before discount): $499
Courses in Certificate: 4 courses
Designed for: School leaders, teacher leaders, and school management teams. Bring best practices from the fields of business and education to your toolkit, and learn to effectively lead and drive change improvement in K-12 schools. A collaboration with Harvard Business School.
Need More Information or Support?
Contact the Professional Education Team
*PLEASE NOTE: (1) Each participant may apply no more than one discount code per course. For example, if a TFA member is participating in an ILC course and is receiving a 25% discount through a TFA group purchase, that participant cannot use the 10% discount referenced above. (2) Some programs are subject to application acceptance and savings are available to accepted applicants only.