TITLE
Alternative Teacher Certification Program: Practitioner Teacher Program
HISTORY
Began as a pilot 2001-02, with nine approved providers. Fully
implemented in Summer 2002 with twelve approved providers.
MOTIVATION
Blue Ribbon commission Initiative -- a fast-track alternate
option for certifying teachers.
GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREAS COVERED
Elementary (grades 1-5), Middle School (grades 4-8), Secondary
(grades 6-12; vary by provider), and Special Education Mild/Moderate.
WHO OPERATES
Universities and approved private providers.
REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER PROGRAM
Submission of an official transcript for evaluation to a Louisiana
college or university with an approved teacher education program
or to a state-approved private practitioner program provider.
Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university.
Have a 2.5 GPA on undergraduate work. Appropriate, successful
work experience can be substituted for the required GPA, at
the discretion of the program provider. However, in no case,
may the GPA be less that 2.2. (note: State law requires that upon completion of the program the
teacher candidate has a 2.5 GPA for certification).
Pass the Pre-Professional Skills Test (e.g. reading, writing,
and mathematics) on the PRAXIS. (An exclusion from this requirement
can be granted for a candidate who has an earned Master's Degree.)
Pass the content specific examinations for the PRAXIS
- Candidates for Grades 1-5 (regular and special education)
pass the Elementary Education Content Knowledge specialty
examination;
- Candidates for Grades 4-8 (regular and special education)
pass the Middle School Education Content Knowledge specialty
examination;
- Candidates for Grades 6-12 (regular and special education)
pass the content specialty examination(s) (e.g. English,
Mathematics, etc.) on the PRAXIS and in the content area(s)
in which they intend to teach.
Meet the other non-course requirements established by the
college or university
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
- Teaching Preparation (Summer) 9 credit hours (or equivalent
135 contact hours)
- Grades 1-5, 4-8 and 6-12 practitioner teachers will
complete courses (or equivalent contact hours) pertaining
to child-adolescent development/psychology, the diverse
learner, classroom management, assessment, instructional
design, and instructional strategies before starting
their teaching positions.
- Mild/moderate special education teachers will take
courses (or equivalent contact hours) that focus upon
the special needs of the mild/moderate exceptional child,
classroom management, behavioral management, assessment
and evaluation, methods/materials for mild/moderate exceptional
children, and vocational and transition services for
students with disabilities.
- Teaching Internship and First-Year Teaching 12 credit hours
(or equivalent contact hours)
Practitioner teachers will assume full-time teaching
positions in school districts.
Participate in two seminars (one during the fall and
one in the spring) that address immediate needs of the
Practitioner Teacher program teachers.
Receive one-on-one supervision through an internship
program provided by the program providers.
The Practitioner Teacher will also receive support
from school-based mentor teachers (provided by the Louisiana
Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program) and principals.
- Teacher Performance Review (end of first year).
Program
providers, principals, mentors and practitioner teachers
will form teams to review the first year teaching
performance or practitioner teachers and determine the extent
to which the practitioner teachers have demonstrated teaching
proficiency.
If additional assistance is needed, prescriptive plans that require from 1 to 12 credit hours (or equivalent 15 to 180 contact hours) of instruction will be developed for practitioner teachers.
Prescriptive Plan Implementation 1-9 credit hours (15-135
contact hours)
Practitioner teachers who demonstrate areas
of need will complete prescriptive plans.
4. Louisiana Assessment Program
Practitioner teachers will
be assessed during the fall or spring of the second year
of teaching depending upon their
teaching proficiencies.
5 .PRAXIS Review
Program providers will offer review sessions
to prepare practitioner teachers to pass remaining components
of the
PRAXIS.
NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE
21-30 (Varies)
WHO EVALUATES
Private providers and colleges or universities.
LENGTH OF TIME
Not specified
