Changing the Composition of Beginning Teachers: The Role of State Alternative Certification Policies

Drawing on nationally representative data from six cohorts of beginning teachers from the Schools and Staffing Survey and the National Teacher and Principal Survey, this study applies a difference-in-differences research design to examine the relationship between changes to state-level alternative certification policies and the characteristics of new teachers. The introduction of alternate routes into teaching is associated with an increase in the fraction of new teachers of color in a state and the new teachers who graduated from selective colleges. No evidence was found of a relationship with the relative share of male teachers or teachers of in-demand subjects.

Alternative certification candidates’ attitudes towards using technology in education and use of social networking services: A comparison of sports sciences and foreign language graduates

The purpose of the research was to investigate the relationships between alternative certification candidates’ attitudes towards using technology in education and their use of social networking services (SNSs). Participants were 156 pre-service teachers enrolled in the alternative certification program at a public university in Turkey (N = 156). The research was designed as a correlational study. Data were collected by Attitude towards Using Technology in Education Scale in addition to demographics form including questions about SNS usage. Data were analysed by Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient. Alternative certification candidates had strong attitudes towards improving themselves in using technology in education. However, their attitudes towards using educational technology in instructional processes and classroom management were weaker. Alternative certification candidates were observed to be close to low-risk class of problematic social media use indicating negative emotional states. The results indicated that instructional programs that participants engaged in during their undergraduate studies seem to have an influence on developing familiarity with and competence in technology. Keywords: Alternative certification, attitude, social networking service, teacher training, technology integration.

Supporting Early Career Alternatively Certified Teachers: Evidence from the Beginning Teacher Longitudinal Survey

Background Alternatively certified (AC) teachers have generally been found to turn over at higher rates than traditionally certified (TC) teachers. These higher turnover rates are generally attributed to lower levels of preparedness and less of a commitment to remain in teaching than TC teachers, both of which may be compounded by AC teachers’ increased likelihood of beginning their career in schools that enroll traditionally underserved students. Purpose Our goal is to better understand the early career professional learning opportunities of AC teachers. We consider the ways in which in-service organizational supports such as mentoring, collaboration with one's peers, and professional development compensate for alternative certification teachers’ reduced levels of pre-service training. Research Design We conduct a secondary analysis of data from the Beginning Teacher Longitudinal Survey (BTLS). BTLS is a nationally representative survey of the cohort of new teachers who began their career in the 2007–2008 school year. Teachers were surveyed annually for their first five years in the teaching profession. We draw on data regarding teachers’ entry pathway, feelings of preparedness, organizational supports, and turnover (i.e., leaving teaching or moving schools). Data Analysis We first describe differences in self-reported preparedness, commitment to remain in teaching, and use of in-service organizational supports across beginning teachers across different entry pathways. We then conduct discrete time survival analysis to (1) understand differences in the timing of turnover rates across entry pathways and (2) examine the role induction supports play in improving AC teacher retention. Findings We show that AC teachers enter teaching feeling less prepared and, with the exception of mentoring, receive no additional support in their first year of teaching compared to TC teachers. Although we observe a 10-percentage point gap in the turnover between early career AC and TC teachers is, this gap is, in large part, explained by observable teacher and school characteristics. We show some evidence that AC teachers differentially benefit from extra classroom assistance, quality of mentor feedback, and content professional development, which were all associated with lower odds of leaving teaching. Conclusions Our findings suggest that schools and districts could do more to target induction supports for novice AC teachers. Given that AC teachers receive most of their training once they begin teaching, alternative certification programs, schools, and districts can customize supports for AC teachers to fit the needs of their local context.

Evaluation of Remote Versus Face-to-Face Observation of Teacher Candidates in an Alternative Certification Program

The University of Kentucky provides an alternative certification program to prepare teacher candidates in moderate and severe disabilities. Observations occur every semester that candidates are in the 2-year program and must be conducted all across Kentucky, often many miles away from campus. University researchers placed cameras in the classrooms of teacher candidates and measured reliability of teacher observations conducted face-to-face and remotely. The researchers also surveyed perceptions of the teacher candidates and university observers and analyzed the cost-effectiveness of the two observation methods. The results indicated that the observers achieved similar results on an observation form regardless of the observation method used. The remote observations were the most cost efficient of the two methods both monetarily and in the time commitment needed by the observers. The findings include the perceptions of the teacher candidates and university observers for benefits and challenges of each observation method.