A controversial program aimed at fast-tracking teachers into disadvantaged public schools has been labelled an "expensive experiment" by the teachers' union.

Teach For Australia recruits high achieving university graduates from other disciplines and has them in a classroom teaching within six weeks.

They then complete a Masters of Teaching part-time over two years with mentoring.

It is being rolled out in Western Australian schools despite generating controversy in other states.

The State School Teachers Union has labelled the program an "expensive experiment" and an "unacceptable" imposition on school resources.

Graduate law student chose teaching over corporate world

Melanie McLeod graduated with first-class honours in Law from the Australian National University in 2014, but instead of chasing a lucrative corporate career, she spent her summer doing the crash course in teaching.

Now teaching full-time at Southern River College in Gosnells, south of Perth, Ms McLeod said it was her passion for social justice that led her to the program.

"I felt there was a greater need in the education sector and that I could use my law degree to engage and inspire some of our young people to really push themselves to achieve," she said.

"I'm driven to give back to the community. Being a teacher you see the impact everyday," she said.

Teach For Australia placed 13 graduates at five low socio-economic schools in WA this term - Balga Senior High School, Southern River College, Ballajura Community College, Atwell College and Cannington Community College.

Just over half the graduates have moved from interstate to teach in areas where shortages exist, such as maths, science or English.

The Federal Government provides $22 million in funding and private donors chip in the remainder.

According to the Australian Council for Educational Research in 2013, each graduate cost $100,000 over the two years, but Teach For Australia said that cost would come down to about $70,000 this year.

Fast-track model flawed, union says

But the State School Teachers Union said despite some good points, the model was flawed.

Secretary Pat Byrne said graduates being responsible for a class after six weeks was concerning.

"In the traditional model, student teachers are supervised and assessed," she said.

"Under this model, they are fully responsible from day one, they have to do the marking, assessment, the recording.

"Six weeks preparation just isn't sufficient.

"Teaching is a profession - I don't believe that any other profession would tolerate this sort of thing."

Ms Byrne said schools were not adequately resourced to handle the program's requirements.

"The new WA funding model and associated funding cuts means that teachers don't have the time to be taken offline to provide support and assistance that is necessary," she said.

"It's a significant additional workload."

Strong academic record a prerequisite

Almost 300 Teach For Australia graduates are now teaching in high schools in WA, Victoria, ACT and the Northern Territory.

However, only 60 per cent remain teaching after the two-year program, although 75 per cent remain in the education sector.

WA manager John Inverarity said the six-week initial training period was adequate.

"I highly regard teacher training, but I have a view that if you are 21 years old, you have had 21 years of teacher training from your parents, family, coaches," he said.

"You are very aware of the learning and teaching dynamic."

Mr Inverarity said the organisation only recruited graduates that had a very strong academic background from areas such as law and engineering.

"Academic ability is a very good predictor of good teaching, and these students on an average, have an ATAR score in the high 90s," he said.

Education Department executive workforce director Cliff Gillam said the program had good feedback from principals in Victoria and the ACT.

But he conceded the department did have hurdles to overcome including a lack of suitable job vacancies in 2013 and 2014.