The Teacher Preparation Program is a first-of-its-kind, collaborative initiative among Dallas County independent school districts, the colleges and area four-year universities. The overall objective of the pre-kindergarten-through-college program is to transform Dallas-area students into Dallas-area public school teachers.

Tuition for college and Dallas-area state universities is very affordable, but even modest tuition can sometimes be a barrier to education. The Teacher Preparation Program tackles this issue head on. Traditional financial aid in the form of student loans and grants is available through the college and all area four-year universities. Special funding programs are available, such as Rising Star, which guarantees all qualifying Dallas County high school graduates the opportunity to attend the first two years of college tuition free, books and fees included. In addition, the Teacher Preparation Program is a clearinghouse for scholarships earmarked specifically for students entering the teaching profession. See Teacher Preparation Program.

An exciting development in teacher preparation is the Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree, an academic program of study leading to a Texas teacher certification. The AAT degree provides students with seamless transfer to Texas universities offering bachelor's degrees in education. See Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree.

Alternative teacher certification programs are designed for people who have earned baccalaureate degrees and are seeking a career change to teaching. These continuing education programs meet state requirements with the goal of preparing people for the State of Texas certification exam. Brookhaven College, Mountain View College, and Richland College offer programs especially designed to prepare qualified teachers for Texas classrooms.