Did you Make a Difference Today?
Students across Arizona are waiting
for the difference that YOU can make -
Why Wait?
A Message from Superintendent Horne
As State Superintendent, I have consistently articulated the need to break down artificial barriers to make it easier for mid-career changers to enter the teaching profession. Under the pilot program, Alternative Secondary Path to Certification, a candidate with a bachelor’s degree and high content knowledge, such as a biologist who wants to teach biology or an engineer who wants to teach math, has the opportunity to become a teacher".
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Why Choose an Alternative Path to Certification?
In pursuing teacher certification, participants will teach under the "Teaching Intern" certificate. Upon following the Teaching Intern guidelines, participants will be "highly qualified" as per No Child Left Behind requirements and "appropriately certified" as per Arizona Certification requirements. Participants will be able to teach immediately following the pre-service training program and receive full teaching salary and benefits, which ensures no loss of income for participants. Support is received from a trained, building level mentor with extensive teaching experience and a local cohort of other teachers pursuing an Alternative Path to Certification.
| **The alternative path to certification program is to be completed within the consecutive two year timeline of the teaching intern certificate, no exceptions, as per State Board of Education Rule R7-2-612 (E). The second year extension of the teaching intern certificate is available only if the requirements are met.
**ONLY K-12 teachers with standard certificates may obtain K-12 Special Education Certificate through the Alternative Paths to Certification Program.
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**Districts interested in participating with the alternative paths to certification, please contact:
Rosemary Gaona, NBCT
Transition to Teaching Director
602-364-3553
Rosemary.Gaona@azed.gov
Alternative Secondary Path to Certification (ASPC) Program Components
- Funded by the Transition to Teaching grant from the US Dept. of Education
- May be eligible for tuition reimbursement
- Application, prescreening and formal interview process
- Pre-service training
- Participants are employed as a full-time Teacher of Record
- On going two-year training program consisting of college level course work, four semesters of student teaching and embedded professional development
- Two year beginning teacher district induction and mentoring program
- On-going formative and summative evaluations throughout the two year program
- Under No Child Left Behind, participants enter the classroom as a "highly qualified" teacher by taking and passing the AEPA Subject Knowledge exam.
- Upon successful completion of the two-year teaching preparation program and a passing score on the Professional Knowledge Exam of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment participants receive an Institutional recommendation for their provisional teaching certificate
- Commitment to teach in high-needs district, minimum 3 years.
Alternative Secondary Path to Certification (ASPC) Program Eligibility
The ASPC targets Mid-Career Professionals and Recent College Graduates
- A minimum of a Bachelors Degree required
- 3.0 or higher overall GPA
- Major or 24 hours in content area
- Passing Score on the Subject Knowledge portion of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment in content area
- Valid Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Official Verification form and Teaching Intern Certificate Acknowledgement Form verified and signed by district and university designee
Teacher Preparation Program (TPP) Components
- Application, prescreening and formal interview process
- Pre-service training
- Participants are employed as a full-time Teacher of Record
- On going two-year training program consisting of college level course work, four semesters of student teaching and embedded professional development
- Two year beginning teacher district induction and mentoring program
- On-going formative and summative evaluations throughout the two year program
- Under No Child Left Behind, participants enter the classroom as a "highly qualified" teacher by taking and passing the AEPA Subject Knowledge exam.
- Upon successful completion of the two-year teacher preparation program and a passing score on the Professional Knowledge Exam of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment participants receive an Institutional recommendation for their provisional teaching certificate
TPP Eligibility
The TPP targets Mid-Career Professionals, Recent College Graduates and Certified Teachers pursuing a Special Education certificate
- A minimum of a Bachelors Degree required
- Passing score on the Subject Knowledge portion of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) (Cross Category 22 for Certified Teachers)
- Valid Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Official Verification form and Teaching Intern Certificate Acknowledgement Form verified and signed by district and university designee.
How to Apply
To apply for the Teaching Intern certificate, the checklist information for the appropriate year must be gathered. Application process begins at district level after taking and passing the AEPA Subject Knowledge exam, complete applications only will be accepted for processing and submitted to the Arizona Department of Education’s Transition to Teaching director. Please ensure that the university/college verify your application, and documents are complete for submission.
Information
Adjunct Teacher Initiative – Components
- Participating candidate is employed by a community business
- Business partners with local school district in ATI program; minimum 2 year commitment preferred
- Business conducts pre-screening and formal inter process.
- Business supports interested participants through progress
- Business allows participants two hours leave time to teach at local school district
- Participant/business collaborate work school.
Adjunct Teacher Initiative – Eligibility
- Degree with 24 hours in core academic area (biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics)
- Application, prescreening and formal interview process
- Preservice training
- Participants commit to tutoring (one on one or small group, classroom instruction) in a partnering district’s grades 7-12 classroom
- Participants, mentor and principal will determine readiness to teach subject one period per day without mentor supervision.
"Grow Your Own" Paraprofessional Program Components
The "Grow Your Own" Paraprofessional Program targets "Highly Qualified" Paraprofessionals
- Funded by Transition to Teaching Grant from the US Dept. of Education
- Application, prescreening and formal interview process
- Supported by the school district through various venues
- Participants are employed by the school district full time
- Enrollment in a program of study through an accredited institution
- Participants commit to working in the high needs district for 3 years after obtaining their teaching certificate
- Understand repayment of funding if program or requirements are not completed
"Grow Your Own" Paraprofessional Program Eligiblity
- Must be "Highly Qualified" by passing ParaPro exam, 60 credit hours or AA degree
- Complete scholarship application and submit to TTT Director
- Maintain a 2.5 GPA throughout the program of study for continued financial assistance
- Participate in tutoring sessions provided
Partners
- School Districts
- Universities with state approved teacher preparation programs
- Arizona Department of Education
Program Partners and Other Links
- New Teacher Center
The New Teacher Center is nationally recognized for providing beginning teacher induction services. ASPC mentors will be trained by the New Teacher Center to provide support for all beginning teachers in the program.
- Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments
Before beginning their first year, ASPC teachers will be required to take and pass the Subject Knowledge portion of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment. Before beginning year two they must pass the professional knowledge portion. This link will provide you with scheduling and fee information.
- Teach For America
Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates and professionals of all academic majors and career interests who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity.
- Phoenix Teaching Fellows
Phoenix Teaching Fellows seeks outstanding professionals and recent college graduates who wish to build a career making a difference in the lives of Phoenix’s children. This highly-selective program is designed to recruit and train socially-driven individuals who want to give back to the community by becoming teachers in high-need elementary and K-8 public schools in Murphy Elementary School District and Phoenix Elementary School District.
- Arizona Rural Schools Association
ARSA provides a listing of current job openings in small and rural Arizona districts to teachers, administrators, teaching interns and support staff who are looking for open positions throughout the state.
- College Funding Opportunities
This link provides a list of funding grants, resources and tools to assist students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school.
Contact Information
Rosemary J. Gaona, NBCT
Director, Transition to Teaching Grant
Email: Rosemary.Gaona@azed.gov
Tel: (602) 364-3553
Academic Achievement Division
Highly Qualified Professionals Unit
Arizona Department of Education
1535 West Jefferson Street, Bin 45
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
This page was last updated on
Monday, July 20, 2009.
