Thinking Outside of the University

Innovation in Alternative Teacher Certification

April 28, 2008, 12:30pm – 2:00pm

About This Event

Teacher quality is critical to the success of all other education improvement efforts, which is why forward-thinking education reformers are so focused on reforming teacher certification standards to boost quality. One approach to meeting the challenges of teacher quality and supply is developing alternative routes to teacher certification. These routes have been proliferating over the past decade, and they currently supply about one-fifth of new hires nationally. Yet many alternative certification programs are no longer much different from the traditional routes they have replaced. Approximately 50 percent of alternative programs are operated by colleges and universities, and they often closely resemble traditional teacher preparation programs in terms of required professional coursework.

Since many traditional, university-based programs are not adequately preparing teachers, particularly for hard-to-staff schools and subjects such as math and science, alternative programs are needed that try new and innovative approaches, rather than mimic traditional approaches. Join us for a lively discussion of a new paper by Davida Gatlin from the Center for American Progress that describes some of the more innovative models for alternative teacher certification programs and offers recommendations for state policy to encourage their growth. Panelists will offer their perspectives on why innovation is (or isn't) needed, how effective alternative certification programs should be designed, and how state policy can better support their growth.

Featured Panelists:

Steven Farr, Vice President, Knowledge Development and Public Engagement, Teach for America
Davida Gatlin, 2nd/3rd Grade Teacher, Heritage School at Cap Cana, Dominican Republic (and report author)
Sharon Robinson, President and CEO, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
Jesse Solomon, Director, Boston Teacher Residency Program

Moderated by:

Robin Chait, Senior Education Policy Analyst, Center for American Progress

Location

Center for American Progress
1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Resources

Read Full Transcript Here