TITLE

Alternative Program for Shortage Areas

HISTORY

Began in 1996.

MOTIVATION

To reduce the shortage of teachers in selected teaching fields or in geographic areas that are difficult to fill.

GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREAS COVERED

Hawaii Department of Education declared shortage fields (HDOE).

WHO OPERATES

Brigham Young University-Hawaii (BYUH).

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER PROGRAM

Official transcript verifying the baccalaureate degree earned from an accredited institution.

Minimum of two semesters of satisfactory full-time contracted HDOE teaching experience in the content area for which licensing is sought.

Favorable letter of recommendation from applicant's principal as well as the completed form for the "Principal's Recommendation for Temporary Teacher."

Transcript evaluation to determine specific courses needed with a minimum of 2.7 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) on the baccalaureate degree.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Upon meeting the requirements outlined above, candidates are required to apply for admission to BYUH. Upon acceptance, candidates need to register for one semester of student teaching. Supervision during the semester will be the responsibility of BYUH. However, the principal or his/her designee will serve as the school-based mentor to fulfill the regular duties of a cooperating teacher in providing supervision and staff development support as well as working collaboratively with the BYUH supervisors.

HAWAII

Upon successful completion of the student teaching requirement, the applicant must complete prescribed professional education coursework with a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Before licensing is recommended, applicants must show demonstrated competency in the following areas Assessment and lesson planning; Technology usage; Special education issues and strategies; and School law. Special education applicants also need to demonstrate competency in writing individualized education programs (IEPs).

Upon successful completion of the program requirements, applicants must submit passing Praxis score reports for the appropriate tests to the Hawaii Department of Education.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE

To be established by BYUH in consultation with the principal and applicant.

WHO EVALUATES

BYUH.

LENGTH OF TIME

Varies, depending upon applicant's prescribed program.