1. National World Language Teacher Certification Summit December 9, 2009
Alternate Routes to Teacher Certification Emily Feistritzer National Center for Alternative Certification
National World Language Teacher Certification Summit
December 9, 2009

2. What Is an Alternative Route to Teacher Certification?
State licensing agencies have created alternatives to the “traditional” approved college, campus-based teacher education programs for certifying teachers

3. Alternate Routes are Market-Driven
They are created to meet market demand for teachers in specific fields at specific grade levels where the demand for teachers is greatest.
Perfect for world language teachers
Most states allow for development of programs to meet specific needs

4. Facts from NCEI’s Alternative Teacher Certification: A State-by-State analysis 2009
Every state now has at least one alternate route to teacher certification
130 state alternate routes
~600 alternate route programs being implemented
~62,000 individuals issued certificates to teach through alternate routes in – nearly double the number just five years ago and one-third of all new teachers hired

7. Number of Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification in Each State 2006
Source: Basic data submitted by state alternate route officials to the National Center for Education Information, 2006.

9. Characteristics of “Alternate Routes”
Candidates who get licensed to teach through alternate routes
Have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Pass a screening process, such as passing tests, interviews, and demonstrated mastery of content to be taught.
Begin teaching – usually full-time – early. They engage in on-the-job training.
Complete any coursework or equivalent experiences in professional education studies while teaching.
Usually work with mentor teachers.
Meet high performance standards.

10. Source: National Center for Education Information 2009

11. Source: National Center for Education Information 2009

12. Source: National Center for Education Information 2009
Source: National Center for Education Informtion
Source: National Center for Education Information 2009

13. Source: National Center for Education Information 2009

14. Source: National Center for Education Information 2009

15. Source: National Center for Education Information 2009

16. “Teaching full time as a teacher of record during the program” far outranked any other variable as most helpful component of the AC program. (n = 632 to1393)
Source: National Center for Education Information’s Survey of Individuals Entering Teaching Through Alternative Teacher Certification Programs © NCEI 2005

17. What the Research is Showing
Zero difference after 2 years teaching
Experience teaching #1 variable in developing competence to teach
Followed by working with other teachers/colleagues
Content and subject matter support
Clinical experiences much more valuable than courses

18. What the Research Says about Teacher Effectiveness
Pathway or route is not the issue
Number of education courses is not the issue
Who provides the program is not the issue

19. What Does Matter Who the CANDIDATE is matters most
Selection of candidates is crucial
Ongoing candidate assessment driving candidate’s program
Clinical experience with support

20. For more information about alternate routes
National Center for Alternative Certification