1 Alternative Certification (No longer available at ISU) Michael A. Lorber, Ph.D. College of Education Illinois State University Normal, IL Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

2 Overview Characteristics of Alternative Certification (Alt. Cert.) Programs Characteristics of Alternative Certification (Alt. Cert.) Programs Characteristics of Alt. Cert. Candidates Characteristics of Alt. Cert. Candidates Brief History of Alt. Cert. Brief History of Alt. Cert. Current Status Nationwide Current Status Nationwide Current Status in Illinois Current Status in Illinois Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

3 Characteristics of Alt. Cert. Programs (points 1 & 2 of 5) 1.Market Driven – Designed to meet the demand for teachers in specific geographical areas. 2.Tailor-made – Designed to meet the needs of people who have at least a Bachelor’s degree and work experience. Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

4 Characteristics of Alt. Cert. Programs (points 3-5 of 5) 3.Job-specific – People are recruited for specific teaching positions. 4.Field-based - A full year in the classroom. 5.Mentor teachers – Usually supplemented by observations by administrators as well as Alt. Cert. program staff. Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

5 Characteristics of Alt. Cert. Candidates 1.Typically older than graduates of traditional programs 2.Most have academic degrees in fields other than education 3.All have practical work experience 4.All made a definitive decision to become a teacher Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

6 Brief History of Alt. Cert – New Jersey first state to enact Alt. Cert. legislation 1984 – New Jersey first state to enact Alt. Cert. legislation 1985 – Texas first state to implement a single Alt. Cert. program – Houston Independent School District 1985 – Texas first state to implement a single Alt. Cert. program – Houston Independent School District 2004 – 48 states, plus the District of Columbia have Alt. Cert. programs. About 200,000 people have been licensed through these programs – 48 states, plus the District of Columbia have Alt. Cert. programs. About 200,000 people have been licensed through these programs. Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

7 Current Status Nationwide (points 1-5 of 10) 1.90,000 public elementary and secondary schools 2.15,000 school districts million teachers million students ,000 “new” teachers needed in (includes former teachers returning to the classroom) Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

8 Current Status Nationwide (points 6-8 of 10) 6.45,000 “newly minted” teachers needed in About 1/3 of graduating teachers actually teach during the following year 8.About 1/4 of current teachers do NOT hold a Bachelor’s degree in education Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

9 Current Status Nationwide (point 9 of 10) National Science Foundation provided $5.76 million to fund the Physics Teacher Coalition (PhysTEC). Began with six institutions and will expand to at least ISU became a member in Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

10 Current Status in Illinois 57 schools in Illinois prepare teachers 57 schools in Illinois prepare teachers 23 prepare Physics teachers 23 prepare Physics teachers 20 are NCATE accredited 20 are NCATE accredited 14 schools have Alt. Cert. programs 14 schools have Alt. Cert. programs 06 Alt. Cert. programs are offered by NCATE accredited schools 06 Alt. Cert. programs are offered by NCATE accredited schools Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

11 Alt. Cert. at ISU Alternative Route to Secondary Teacher Certification program approved by ISBE Alternative Route to Secondary Teacher Certification program approved by ISBE Wholly revised program approved by ISBE Wholly revised program approved by ISBE. One Physics teacher completed the program and is currently teaching – One candidate in Physics is completing his internship – One candidate in Physics is completing his internship. One candidate did not find an internship. Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

12 ISU Alt. Cert. Candidates Age / Gender Data Table 1: Enrollment Data by Age and Gender Age Mean Male Female Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

13 ISU Alt. Cert. Candidates Content Area Data Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)

14 Sources Slides 3-7 Slides 3-7 The National Center for Education Information Slides 8-9 Slides 8-9 “Inside science News Service,” American Institute of Physics Slide 10 Slide 10 Illinois State Board of Education Slides Slides Lorber, Michael A., Alternative Route to Secondary Teacher Certification at ISU, Oct. 19, 2004 Alt. Cert. no longer available at ISU (Note added 11/2/2009)