IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL POLICY Alternate Teacher Certification Routes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL POLICY

Alternate Teacher Certification Routes

Teacher Shortages

High Need Areas (SPED, MATH, Science)

Shortages affect 66% of All School Districts

High Need Areas Difficult To Staff

Explanation of Shortages

Difficult Work Environments (Urban Areas)

Low starting salaries

Mass Retirements (Baby Boomers)

New Teacher Attrition/Turnover

8% yearly (Testing/Accountability, too little support, student discipline,

unfunded programs, lack of influence/respect, pay) (Flynt & Morton 2009)

Class Size Reduction

Licensure Requirements

Alternative Teacher Certification Programs

Intend to increase pool of qualified teachers

For Non-Education College Majors

Cast a wider net

NCLB provides monetary incentives to states to establish

ATCP’s

Take advantage of existing content knowledge of

candidates

Implementation

Administered by: Universities Community Colleges School Divisions Governmental Agencies (DOD)

Program instructional time varies between 75-794 hours.

Student teaching requirements vary 10-21 weeks

National and State Alternate Teacher Certification Programs

http://www.teach-now.org/map.cfm

http://www.teach-now.org/overview.cfm

Policies and Programs

Teach for America1999 VA SJR No.384 calls for alternative

teacher certification program 40 states have them Teacher shortages across the state Study other states (New Jersey and Texas)

SJR No. 384 lead to: Virginia Career Switcher Transition to Teaching (T2T) Troops to Teachers (TTT) Pathways to Teaching

Teach for America (TFT)

Aims to end educational injustice by placing college grads from most selective universities to staff shortages in most difficult K-12 environments

33 Regions throughout the US7,400 placements for 2009-2010 school yearFunded by 2008 Higher Ed ActHigher than average teacher performanceProgram completion = job placement or

graduate scholarships

VA Career Switcher

Military Personnel, 5yr work experience (2001)

Qualifications 4 year degree from accredited university Passing PRAXIS scores 150 hours instruction in classroom management,

instructional strategies, and human development theories

Mentorship20 Hr Additional Training

Transition to Teaching (T2T)

Federally Funded, State AdministeredCollaboration between Local University and

School DistrictHigh Need Area Schools/Subjects - >30% SESEducation Paraprofessionals and Recent College

GraduatesProgram Provides

Summer Training Paid Tuition University Classroom Support Job Placement – 3yr Contract $5,000 Stipend

Troops to Teachers (TTT)

Program Requirements Honorably discharges – Retirees, 10yr Service

4-yr degree from accredited university in content area

Teach in high poverty rate >20%SES = $5,000 Bonus,

>50%SES =$10,000 Bonus

SPED, Math Science Priorities

US Dep't funded through DOD

DOD administered - Offices in 50 States - ODU

Pathways to Teaching

Based on NJ and Texas programsProgram goals: increase quantity of minority and

male teachers and quality of instructionProgram Requirements

60 Semester Hours 2.3<GPA 3yr Commitment to teaching in urban schools

Norfolk and Portsmouth Public Schools/NSUProgram Benefits

80% tuition assistance PRAXIS prep assistance Annual Book Stipend

Caveats

ACTP – less prepared – Student Achievement ImpactPedagogyAttrition of ACTPMathematica Study – No statistical difference

between traditionally and alternatively certified teachers

TFA teachers student EOC better than traditionally certified teacher in Reading and Math

TFA Classroom Management – Negative Correlation

Caveats Continued

Research finds student lower student achievement

for Middle School Mathematics

Overreliance on textbooks and “canned” materials

Lower teacher retention for some ATCP – options

Some ATCP’s require as much college preparation

as traditional certification programs.

ATCP Legislative Review:

VA HB 506 – introduced by Rep. Phil Hamilton, this bill would expand the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program leading to an endorsement in career and technical education

VA SJ 55 – 2008 establishes joint subcommittee to study teacher shortage in the Commonwealth; examines programs such as Teach for America, identifies barriers to teaching as a career choice and seeks to find possible solutions.

VA SJ 384 – 1999 Resolution calling alternative teacher certification programs

NC S803 – offers teacher certification programs on military bases, probably as an incentive to lure former soldiers into teaching.

NC S868 – act directing the State Board of Ed to remove barriers to the lateral entry of skilled individuals from the private sector into the teaching profession.

Political Considerations

NCLB –Highly Qualified Requirement / Accountability Bachelor's Degree Active teaching Certificate Pass PRAXIS II

HOUSSE – High Objective and Uniform State Standard of Evaluation – Mandated Federal Standards Measuring Teacher Competency

NEA – Will ATC teachers dilute their power baseHigher Education – Competition with existing

teacher prep programs

CNU Teaching Program EliminationHampton's First Steps Program

Conclusions

Policy Cycle – ATCP No Policy EvaluationImpact of NCLB on teacher licensurePolicy Decisions ignores the MarketImpact of Current Economic Cycle on ATCPATCP – Result of Govn’t Distributive

Approach to fixing the problem of teacher shortage

NCLP Regulatory Approach v. Federal and State Distributive Approach