Alternative Certification

Teacher Preparation A Route-to-Teaching Rumble in ESEA Amendments
A pair of amendments by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., would draw something of a line in the sand on the issue of alternative routes to certification.
Stephen Sawchuk, October 18, 2011
2 min read
Teacher Preparation Conversations Between TFA's Wendy Kopp and NEA's Dennis Van Roekel
Teach For America founder and CEO Wendy Kopp and NEA President Dennis Van Roekel had a substantive discussion about the teaching profession today, showing that while some of their strategies for improving it may differ, they're on the same page on many issues.
Stephen Sawchuk, September 30, 2011
2 min read
Teacher Preparation TFA Selection Criteria Linked to Student Gains
Aspects of Teach For America's selection process appear to be linked to student achievement gains.
Stephen Sawchuk, August 2, 2011
3 min read
Teacher Preparation Survey: Alternative Teacher Certification on the Rise
Four out of 10 new public school teachers hired since 2005 came through alternative teacher-preparation programs, according to a survey just released by the National Center for Education Information.
Liana Loewus, July 29, 2011
1 min read
Teacher Preparation Walton Foundation Gives Nearly $50 Million to TFA
The Walton Foundation will donate nearly $50 million to Teach For America.
Stephen Sawchuk, July 27, 2011
1 min read
School & District Management Debate Continues Over 'Highly Qualified' Standard
Debate over the "highly qualified" teacher standards in ESEA continues even as policy discussions shift to measures of effectiveness.
Stephen Sawchuk, April 1, 2011
5 min read
Teacher Preparation After 20 Years, Diverse Opinions on TFA
EdWeek has put out a package of Commentaries about Teach For America to coincide with its 20th anniversary.
Stephen Sawchuk, March 15, 2011
1 min read
Randi Weingarten
Randi Weingarten
Teacher Preparation Opinion Perspectives on TFA
Education Week asked five leaders in the education sector to give their views on Teach For America’s past, present, and future. Randi Weingarten, Steve Zimmer, Jennifer Goldstein, Michael D. Usdan, and Michael L. Cormack Jr. weigh in.
March 14, 2011
14 min read
Teach for America corps member Jessica Haskell teaches math to children at Scott Montgomery Elementary School in Washington in 2007. Today, she is the managing director of programs in TFA's Washington regional office.
Teach for America corps member Jessica Haskell teaches math to children at Scott Montgomery Elementary School in Washington in 2007. Today, she is the managing director of programs in TFA's Washington regional office.
Christopher Powers/Education Week-File
Teacher Preparation Opinion TFA: Our 'Chance to Make History'
In its 20th year, Teach For America is working to increase the impact of its corps members in the classroom and beyond, TFA founder Wendy Kopp writes.
Wendy Kopp, March 14, 2011
7 min read
Linda Darling-Hammond
Linda Darling-Hammond
Teacher Preparation Opinion Teacher Preparation Is Essential to TFA's Future
Creating systems that nurture the teaching profession is crucial to schools and TFA, Linda Darling-Hammond writes.
Linda Darling-Hammond, March 14, 2011
7 min read
Teacher Preparation Minn. Alternative-Certification Bill Nears Approval
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is close to approving a bill that would permit participants in new alternative routes to teach on imited two-year licenses without going through traditional preparation programs.
Stephen Sawchuk, March 1, 2011
1 min read
Teacher Preparation Advocacy Group Proposes 'Ticket to Teach' Idea
Democrats for Education Reform proposes a new competition for supporting teacher training, funded through existing federal programs.
Stephen Sawchuk, January 4, 2011
3 min read
Teacher Preparation UPDATED: Don't Count Alternative Certification Out Just Yet
What's the fallout from the recent ruling invalidating parts of the "highly qualified teacher" ruling?
Stephen Sawchuk, September 29, 2010
2 min read
Teacher Preparation Report: States Must Strengthen Teacher-Preparation Accountability
States should overhaul the accountability mechanisms for teacher-preparation programs so that they focus on the effectiveness of graduates in classrooms, as measured by such factors as value-added data, classroom-based teacher observations, surveys of graduates and administrators, and data on the "persistence" or retention rates of graduates in the profession, an analysis released this morning says.
Stephen Sawchuk, July 29, 2010
2 min read