Alternate Teacher Certification

1. Alternate Teacher Certification Michael Podgursky Department of Economics University of Missouri – Columbia http://web.missouri.edu/~econ4mp/welcome.htm Job Corp Academic Managers Training Conference Kansas City, Kansas Nov. 20, 2002

2. Background • Teacher Quality and Student Achievement • Teacher “Shortages” in Certain Fields Math/Science/Special Education • Shortages in Urban and Rural Districts • Minority teachers • Male teachers

3. Current Teacher Licensing System • Very Complex Mo. 178 Certificates and Endorsements Over 700 Valid codes • Full compliance unusual

5. Current Teacher Licensing System • Very Complex Mo. 178 Certificates and Endorsements Over 700 Valid codes • Full compliance unusual • Research Link to Student Achievement Gains Weak • Entry Barrier for New Recruits

6. Regulatory Pressures for Reform • No Child Left Behind (NCLB) • Emergency or Waivers no longer permitted in 2005-2006 AY and beyond • States need viable “fast track” or alternative certification system

7. Alternative Teacher Certification • What is it? • Market/vacancy oriented • On-the-job training • Programs to recruit, prepare, and license individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree • Candidates pass a pre-screening process: interviews and assessments of content knowledge • Accelerated pre-service coursework combined with continuing coursework on the job • Candidates work with mentor teachers • Performance assessment at end of program leading to regular license

8. New Jersey • Provisional Teacher Program • 1985 – present • PTP’s account for 20-30% of new teachers hired • Entry requirements • secondary: major in subject teaching • elementary major in liberal arts or science • pass Praxis II content test • Certificate of Eligibility • 200 hours of study essential professional knowledge and skills/ after school/weekends • 34 weeks of full-time classroom competency development & mentoring • 3 evaluations during year. After final evaluation and principal’s recommendation => standard license • Higher Praxis II scores than traditional recruits, good retention

9. Texas

10. California Alternate Routes: total CA ~24,000 New Certs 00-01

11. Research findings • Texas

12. Texas

13. Texas

14. Texas

15. Research • Student Achievement Gains ? • Supervisor Evaluations - Generally as high or higher than traditional route candidates

16. Future Growth • NCLB requirements • States must eliminate use of emergency licensing/ waivers by 2005-2006 • Countervailing pressures by education interest groups

17. Resources • U.S.Department of Education. Meeting the Highly Qualified Teachers Challenge: The Secretary’s Annual Report on Teacher Quality. www.ed.gov./offices/OPE/News/teacherprep/index.html • Emily Feistritzer and David Chester. Alternative Teacher Certification: A State-by-State Analysis 2002. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Information. www.ncei.com • Virginia Roach and Benjamin Cohen. Moving Past the Politics: How Alternative Certification Can Promote Comprehensive Teacher Development Reforms. National Association of State Boards of Education. www.nasbe.org/Archives/alt_cert_report.pdf • National Center for Teacher Quality. Washington DC www.nctq.org • Leo Klagholz. Growing Better Teachers in the Garden State. Fordham Foundation. http://www.edexcellence.net/library/newjersey/new%20jersey.html • Dale Ballou and Michael Podgursky. 2001. “A Layman’s Guide to Teacher Training and Licensing.” Fordham Foundation. http://www.edexcellence.net/better/podgurs.pdf