TITLE

Alternative Baccalaureate-Level Approach

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 AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVERED

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.

WHO OPERATES

LEA.

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER PROGRAM

The participant must hold an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

The participant must provide evidence of one of the following to the local superintendent or headmaster of a nonpublic school for his/her review and approval (the nonpublic school must be accredited, State-approved and/or State-registered):

At least 24 months of professional and/or other work experience in the field or related fields for which certification is sought.

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.

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

12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours in specified coursework.

WHO EVALUATES CANDIDATES

The local superintendent (or headmaster of nonpublic school).

LENGTH OF TIME

Three scholastic years.