Project director Anita Ramsey is quick to point out that her program represents the best example of what alternative certification can be. But it is certainly not the norm. And it is hard to define exactly what the norm is, since every state determines its own certification requirements. American Federation of Teachers president Sandra Feldman voiced her concerns about the quality of alternative certification routes in Ignoring Standards, a column she wrote in August 1998. It means lowering standards, allowing any warm body to teach.
Good programs are field-based, meaning that individuals get into classrooms early in their training.
Teacher candidates work with qualified mentor teachers. Candidates usually go through their program in cohorts, not as isolated individuals. Feistritzer told Education World that she sees more and more states evolving toward such a university-based model. But that's changing. Alternative certification programs are emerging as a trend in higher education.