TITLE

Teacher in Residence
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/wizard_alt2.asp

HISTORY

The program was created in legislation in 1999 (SB 99-154).

MOTIVATION

The program was created to address teacher shortages and school districts' inability to find qualified and fully-licensed individuals for teaching positions. The legislation recognized that school districts have increased the use of emergency authorizations to employ individuals who do not have licenses and may not have received any former teacher preparation. The new policy further recognized that persons with experience in areas other than teaching can help alleviate teacher shortages faced by many school districts, provided these persons receive adequate supervision and education in teaching.

GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVERED

All elementary and secondary teaching areas for which the State Board of Education has established teacher standards.

WHO OPERATES

Programs are the primary responsibility of school districts or Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES), but must be planned and operated with an institution of higher education that has an approved teacher education program..

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER

Candidates interested in employment as an alternative teacher must:

Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Have completed the necessary subject knowledge required for teaching in the endorsement/content area (30 semester hours in the content area).
Pass a background check conducted by the employing school district including fingerprinting.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

School districts or BOCES must submit a proposal for approval by the State Board of Education.

Within 30 days of employment, the district must report the hiring of a Teacher in Residence to the Department. Teachers in Residence are issued an Authorization: Teacher in Residence from the Colorado Department of Education while participating in the two-year program.

Districts are required to collaborate with an approved teacher education institution in the design and delivery of a teacher education program based on performance-based standards adopted by the State Board of Education. These performance-based teacher education standards are the same standards used in the preparation of teachers in collegiate teacher education programs.

Teachers in Residence must have an assigned teacher mentor and supervisor.

Candidates must be observed and supervised for a minimum of 100 hours each year for the duration of the two-year program.

Candidates must also pass the state's adopted content (endorsement) test prior to April 15 of the first year of employment or be discontinued from the program at the end of the first year.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE

Credit hours or clock hours of training are not specified. Candidates must complete the teacher education program provided by the school district and/or institution of higher education. The program is performance based and districts must continually assess each Teacher in Residence's progress in meeting performance-based standards. Generally speaking, these programs include 30 semester hours of collegiate pedagogy.

WHO EVALUATES

The local school district makes the recommendation for licensure in consultation with the cooperating institution of higher education upon completion of the program.

LENGTH OF TIME

Two years.

OTHER

During the 2000-01 school year, 208 teachers in residence were enrolled in the first year of the two-year program.

During the 2001-02 school year, 367 Teachers In Residence were enrolled in the first year of the program and 180 in the second year. Participants for the 2002-03 school year included 272 in their first year and 266 teachers in their second year.