Teach For America Ignite Application Process
Check Your Eligibility
Are you eligible to be an Ignite fellow?
- Have at least a 2.5 undergraduate GPA (or 3.0 high school for first year college students)
- Be at least 18 years of age, authorized to work in the U.S. and complete an online background check
- Be available to work up to 5 hours per week on a consistent schedule
- Be a current undergraduate or graduate student, renewing fellow, accepted corps member, TFA alum, or previously accepted new fellow (deferral)
Ignite Application Windows
Review our application deadlines and choose when you’re going to apply.
Fall 2025 Semester
Ignite Deadlines | Spring 2026 Cohort | Fall 2026 Cohort |
---|---|---|
Application Opens | Aug. 20, 2025 | Jan. 28, 2026 |
Application Deadline | Nov. 19, 2025 | Apr. 29, 2026 |
Admissions Notification | Dec. 17, 2025 | May 21, 2026 |
Ignite Deadlines |
Application Opens |
Application Deadline | Admissions Notification |
---|---|---|---|
Spring 2026 Cohort | Aug. 20, 2025 | Nov. 19, 2025 | Dec. 17, 2025 |
Fall 2026 Cohort | Jan. 28, 2026 | Apr. 29, 2026 | May 21, 2026 |
Fill Out an Online Application
Working towards the day when all children have an equitable, excellent education is rewarding and challenging. Are you ready to tutor and mentor students in under-resourced schools, and gain hands-on experience in a flexible, virtual setting as an Ignite fellow? Here’s what you need to do to apply:
Create an Account
- Set up an applicant account on the application portal
- Register with the email address you check most frequently
Confirm Eligibility
- Answer the eligibility questions
- You may need to click “My Account” to update your eligibility profile
Fill Out Application & Upload Documents
- Contact information and leadership roles or community involvements (in lieu of a resume)
- Four short answer essay questions (300 words or less each)
- Disclosure of misdemeanor or felony charges and/or convictions in the last 7 years
- Record and upload two video reflections, following the application prompt
- Demographic Information (optional)
- Click complete for all tasks AND final submit button
Note: There is a shortened application for renewing fellows, accepted corps members, TFA alums, and previously accepted new fellows (deferrals). You will be able to identify yourself in the eligibility questions and the system will transfer you to the shortened application with approximately one short answer question.
In the majority of cases, renewing fellows, accepted corps members, TFA alums, and previously accepted new fellows (deferrals) will be automatically accepted into Ignite. However there may be some instances where we hold your application for further review and may reach out to you to learn more (i.e. due to your response to the short answer question or your previous experience in Ignite).
Tips & Tricks
Check out these resources as you put together your application.

Your Acceptance and Finding a Placement
Yay, you’re accepted!
Acceptance into Teach For America Ignite means you will have a window prior to starting your tutoring experience to review student schedules across different communities and time zones and sign up for the student sessions that will work best for your schedule on a consistent basis. Not all fellows will find a time that works for them. If you find this is the case, you're still accepted and may defer to the following term.
In the weeks leading up to your Ignite semester, you will receive an email with specific instructions about how to view and sign up for a student learning group, along with a designated time to log in and link when the window opens. Once you have signed up, you are officially in Ignite! More instructions will follow to prepare you for training and tutoring.
Signing up for placements is first come, first served. You’ll receive up to a $1,200 (pre-tax) stipend upon successful completion of your Ignite term. If you are unable to find a placement that works with your schedule, you may defer to a future term.