TMI

TMI 1 Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a nationally/regionally accredited university/college in an area that DOES NOT lead to educator licensure (can be enrolled in the final semester of a bachelor’s degree program to be admitted, but must complete the degree in order to complete TMI 1)
• Castlebranch.com Background check or “option 2” letter from district
• Passing Praxis Subject Assessment score in an MDE-approved subject area
• Passing Praxis Core -or- ACT/SAT replacement -or- 3.0 overall undergrad GPA

ALL FOUR items listed above must be submitted prior to admission. The final item on the list is probably the most confusing. Essentially, if you have an ACT score of 21 or higher (or SAT verbal + math score that meant the same the year you took it), you do not need a Praxis Core and you can be admitted regardless of your college GPA. If you do not have the ACT, but your overall undergraduate GPA (min. 120 hours) is a 3.0 or higher, you do not need the Praxis Core. If you do not have the ACT/SAT score, and you do not meet the GPA requirement, you should take the Praxis Core.

TMI 1 Application

The last two pages of the information guide is the TMI 1 application. Please make sure to sign and date the included FERPA release (in case we need to talk to MDE on your behalf). Application can submitted by mail, by fax, or by upload (see next page), but application fee may only be mailed.

Background Check Information

All Teach Mississippi Institute candidates must submit to a background check. Candidates have two options to satisfy the background check requirement (no additional substitutions allowed). These options are:

• Option 1: Visit castlebranch.com, select “Place Order”, initiate a background check using the package code TB23, and pay the $40 fee.
• Option 2: If you work at an MDE-accredited school, and plan on doing all your observation hours at that school, you can request the district office or principal send a memo on district/school letterhead stating that you have (email sent from the leader’s school email account is also acceptable):
  • passed the background search administered by your school district
  • have permission to complete all your observations at the district/school.

Transcript Information

TMI requires an official college transcript showing a bachelor’s degree (or senior status) from an accredited college or university -AND- all undergraduate coursework. If candidate’s degree-granting institution does not list transferred coursework, additional transcripts should be sent.  Master’s degree transcripts are not required.  University of Mississippi graduates DO NOT need to request a transcript.  Institutions can send electronic transcripts to tmi@olemiss.edu to the attention of Jason Wilkins.  Sealed official transcripts, sent by student or institution, are also acceptable.  Transcripts that have been opened cannot be accepted. Please make sure to send transcripts to TMI, not to The University of Mississippi.  We cannot access escripts or paper transcripts sent to UM Admissions.

Transcripts must also be sent to MDE before license can be issued (the TMI 1 completion instructions will prompt you to send transcript to MDE as you are applying; transcripts previously sent to MDE will still be on file with the agency).

ATTENTION: If you have attained senior status and are within one semester of your degree, TMI Online will need a copy of your transcript for admission -AND- a copy of the transcript once the degree has been conferred and posted (on the transcript).

Notification of Admission

When an application is received, an email is sent confirming receipt and providing a copy of the background check instructions listed previously.  Throughout the admission process, emails may be sent to prompt applicant for materials or notify applicant of the receipt of materials.
Applicants are admitted on a rolling basis. Candidates are notified of their admission via email. The PDF attached to the acceptance email includes the acceptance letter and invoice. If acceptance is conditional, an “orientation agreement” listing items needed before TMI 1 completion is also included.

It is important that the candidate application includes an email address that is regularly checked and belongs solely to the candidate (no school or employer owned emails).