A Call for Alternative Certification in North Dakota

From The Grand Forks Herald, in a story nominally about Teach for America, comes this call for alternative certification in the Peace Garden State.

One roadblock could be the state’s few alternative methods of teacher certification. The National Center for Alternative Certification tracks such methods, the most sweeping of which lets, say, math or physics Ph.D’s teach in a public school without studying at a teacher’s college. But clicking on North Dakota on the center’s Web site returns this result:

“North Dakota is not currently implementing any alternative teacher certification routes.”

That’s a problem where Teach for America is concerned.

“The South Dakota Department of Education has created an alternative certification program designed specifically for Teach For America corps members,” Teach for America reports. Given the success that Teach for America has had in helping to close the nation’s “achievement gap,” North Dakota’s Education Standards and Practices Board should do the same.

While I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment here, I don't see the need to marry it to TFA. As the various fellows programs out there demonstrate, we have plenty of professionals that don't fit the TFA mold who we'd be lucky to rush into our classrooms. Moreover, with the economy in its present state, we have the opportunity to bring a whole group of untraditional teachers into the profession. Whatever TFA's wishes might be, North Dakota ought to establish a route of alternative certification.

Alternative Certification Opportunity in Oklahoma

For you Oklahomans out there with pedagogical aspirations, keep an eye out for an opportunity this summer. In addition to the TFA folks that are arriving this year, Oklahoma has invited the American Board of Certification of Teacher Excellence to town. Tulsa World reports it as follows:

The second program — the American Board of Certification of Teacher Excellence — has the promise of bringing mid-career college graduates who didn't major in education into classrooms. It could be a means of bolstering the state's teacher ranks with real-world-experience people displaced by the recession or looking for a career change.

Participants have to pass the same subject testing as education college graduates — would-be math teachers have to pass the math test, for example — and ABCTE provides its participants with online pedagogy training so they also can pass the teaching methods tests.

(ABCTE will be in Tulsa later this summer recruiting would-be teachers for its 180-hour workshop program, which costs about $975. Participants have to pay another $950 for a first-year mentoring program after they are hired.)

Update: Alternative Certification in Pennsylvania

This first surfaced a few weeks ago, but here are some updated details on Ed Rendell's plans to ease teacher certification in Pennsylvania (for teachers in shortage areas only).

If you think certification does more harm than good - which I tend to - you can't help but like this plan. It swaps a 2-4 year program out and replaces it with what is essentially a 4-month intro to teaching. In a perfect world, is this the way I would do it? No. But, given the choice between keeping up the status quo and bringing fresh minds into our classrooms, I'll take this.

A Teacher Certification Alternative in Michigan (but is it necessary?)

Continuing this week's spate of shout outs to states trying to increase their alternative certification offerings, I'd like to shine some light on Michigan's Non-Traditional Route to Teacher Certification.

The good news is that it seeks to bring people with non-education bachelor's degrees into the areas of education that most need them. The bad news is that there are apparently some good reasons to be skeptical of the plan. In brief: there's no demonstrated need for more such programs in the state, it's potentially redundant, and it doesn't set a very high standard for accrediting new programs.

For you Michiganders out there, it's time to weigh the pros and cons and make your voices heard!

Teaching Certification in Iowa - An New Alternative

Looks like Iowa has decided to get on the bus and make transitions to teaching a little easier. Iowans (or aspiring Iowans) out there should look into Iowa's new Intern License Program.

Alternative Certification in Pennsylvania

Governor Ed Rendell is asking the legislature to create a fast track certification program for math, science, engineering, and technology professionals (full story here).

The gist is that professionals could receive a "residency" certificate, good for three years, if they fulfilled the following criteria:

1. A bachelor's, master's, or doctorate in a relevant subject area
2. Work experience to complement the degree (less experience required for higher degrees)
3. Completion of an intensive 4 month preparation program
4. Mentorship during their first year of teaching

This sounds to me like a sensible and simple way to ease the transition into teaching. So, please, you Pennsylvanians out there, make your voices heard!

Connecticut Teacher Certification - Fumble on the Goal Line

That State of Connecticut was on the verge of some very rational reforms to its certification requirements, but the State Senate decided not to act.

The Hartford Courant summarizes the bill as follows:

The proposal would have made it easier for qualified professionals to make a mid-career shift and enter the teaching ranks. They still would have needed a teaching certificate but would no longer have had to take content-area classes on subjects they already know.

The measure would have taken effect in July, 2010. It also would have streamlined the certification process for teachers and administrators already certified in another state

Minnesota Teacher Certfication - Alternative Programs on the Horizon?

Seems someone in the Minnesota House had a simple plan to provide teacher certification to those who didn't want to go through a traditional education program. It didn't make it into the final bill, but the senate is considering it.

The gist:

The proposal would allow an eligible college, university or nonprofit to sponsor intensive teacher training programs for college graduates with high GPAs. Participants would complete a minimum 200-hour prep course, work with a mentor and be required to pass skills exams and other tests.

You Minnesotans out there, get on the phone to your State Senator!