HISTORY

Created by the Alabama Legislature as part of the Alabama Education Improvement Act of 1991. The Act authorized the program for grades 9-12 subject areas and for grades K-8 in the subject areas of the fine arts and foreign languages. Approved by the Alabama State Board of Education in Feb. 1992; implemented in the 1992-93 school year; expanded by the State Board in 1993 to include special education for grades 9-12, and in 1997, to include grades 6-8 for special education, and in 2000, to include dance and theatre.

MOTIVATION

To increase the pool of applicants from which LEA superintendents and headmasters may select persons who appear qualified to fill vacancies.

GRADE LEVELS COVERED

Pre-K
Elementary
Middle
Secondary
Other - K-8 -- art, music, foreign languages, physical education, dance and theatre.6-8 and 9-12 -- art, music, foreign languages, sciences, social sciences, English language arts, career/technical education, mathematics, health, driver education, physical education, dance, theatre, English as a second language, and all areas of special education except early childhood.

SUBJECT AREAS COVERED

English/Language Arts
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Other sciences
Social Studies
Art
Music
Physical Education
Health
Vocational/Technical Education
Special Education
Other - Dance, Theatre, Foreign Languages, Driver Education, ESL

WHO OPERATES

Other - LEA

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education
Semester Hours - A minimum of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of academic credit or the equivalent nonacademic credit in the field or related fields for which certification is sought.
Academic major - At least 24 months of professional and/or other work experience in the field or related fields for which certification is sought.
Other - The participant must be a candidate for employment by a local board of education or a nonpublic school.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The participant must be employed with the same local board of education or nonpublic school for three consecutive scholastic years, and must teach a majority of the time in the area and at the grade level of the certificate. The participant has a mentor for years one and two. The certificate issued is valid for one-year periods. Prior to the end of the third year of employment, the participant must have earned a grade of “C” or above in each course of the specified 12 semester hours/18 quarter hours. At the end of year three, the participant applies for the Class B (baccalaureate level) professional teacher's certificate (the initial regular certificate in Alabama).

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE

Number of credit hours - 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours in specified coursework.

WHO EVALUATES

Other - The local superintendent (or headmaster of nonpublic school).

LENGTH OF TIME

Three years

CLASSIFICATION

B

OTHER