Alabama Administrative Code › Title 290 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION › Chapter 290-3-3 - TEACHER EDUCATION - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES › Section 290-3-3-.60 - Alternative Teacher Preparation Organizations (ATPO)

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
In accordance with Act 2022-239 and Act 2023-451, the Alabama
				State Board of Education (ALSBE) modifies its policies relative to the
				certification of teachers who have completed an alternative teacher preparation
				pathway through an ALSBE-approved alternative teacher preparation organization.
				Enrollment in or completion of an approved pathway will permit the issuance
				of:
(1) an alternative certificate in
			 an available teaching field and grade level to those qualified individuals who
			 are enrolled in an approved pathway, and
(2) a Professional Educator Certificate in an
			 available teaching field and grade level to those qualified individuals who
			 successfully complete an approved pathway. Alabama colleges and universities
			 may also participate in this alternative preparation pathway.
(1)
Database of ALSBE Approved
			 ATPOs.
The State Superintendent of Education shall maintain a database
			 of ALSBE approved ATPOs as a means for screening, recruiting, and recommending
			 for certification qualified individuals to teach in the Alabama public K-12
			 schools.
(2)
ATPO
			 Requirements for Approval.
To request ALSBE approval, the ATPO shall
			 submit a complete application which must include all items in Option 1 or
			 Option 2.
(a)
Option 1.
1. Documentation of successful operation in
			 at least five states and verification that the ATPO is not on probation or
			 under investigation in any of those states. This requirement does not apply to
			 Alabama colleges and universities with State-approved programs.
2. Documentation of successful operation of
			 an alternative teacher education preparation pathway for at least 10 years.
			 This requirement does not apply to Alabama colleges and universities with
			 State-approved programs.
3.
			 Documentation of successfully certifying at least 10,000 teachers in the United
			 States. This requirement does not apply to Alabama colleges and universities
			 with State-approved programs.
(b)
Option 2.
Documentation that
			 the ATPO is approved by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator
			 Preparation (CAEP).
(3)
Approval.
ATPO applications shall be approved by the ALSBE prior
			 to implementation.
(4)
Available teaching Fields and Grade Level(s)
Grades K-12
Arabic
Latin
Chinese
Music/Choral
English for Speakers of Other
							 Languages
Music/Instrumental
French
Russian
German
Spanish
Italian
Theatre
Japanese
Visual Arts
Korean
Grades 6-12
Agriscience Education
Family and Consumer Sciences Education
Algebra I
General Science
Biology
General Social Science
Business/Marketing Education
Geography
Career Technologies
Health Education
Chemistry
History
Collaborative Special
Education Teacher
Mathematics
Computer Science
Physical Education
English Language Arts
Physics
Grades 4-8
English Language Arts
General Science
General Social Science
Mathematics
Grades K-6
Collaborative Special
Education Teacher
Elementary Education
Grades P-3
Early Childhood Education
(5)
Testing Requirements.
Individuals seeking alternative or
			 professional certification through an ALSBE-approved ATPO must successfully
			 meet prescribed subject area, pedagogy,
and
Foundations of Reading assessments by
			 meeting requirements in Option 1 or Option 2. The Foundations of Reading
			 assessment is required for Grades 6-12 Collaborative Special Education Teacher,
			 Grades K-6 Collaborative Special Education Teacher, Elementary Education, and
			 Grades P-3 Early Childhood Education.
(a)
Option 1.
Pass the current Alabama Educator Certification
			 Assessment Program (AECAP) approved Praxis subject area, pedagogy
			 assessment(s),
and
Foundations of Reading
			 assessment for the appropriate teaching field and grade level(s).
(b)
Option 2.
Pass the subject
			 area, pedagogy assessment(s),
and
Foundations of Reading assessment provided by or utilized by the ATPO. Prior to
			 this being used as an option, the Alabama State Department of Education
			 (ALSDE), must determine if the assessments are substantially aligned with
			 Alabama standards. Any costs associated with this analysis are the
			 responsibility of the alternative teacher preparation organization.
(6)
Applicant Requirements
			 for an Alternative Certificate.
(a)
			 Successful criminal history background check by both the Alabama State Bureau
			 of Investigation (ASBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through
			 the ALSDE.
(b) Verification of
			 United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States.
(c) Hold a bachelor's or higher degree from a
			 senior institution that was regionally accredited at the time the degree was
			 earned.
(d) Recommendation for an
			 alternative certificate in the appropriate teaching field and grade level(s) by
			 the employing Alabama county/city superintendent. The recommendation must
			 include the classroom schedule verifying appropriate in-field placement, and
			 participation in the Alabama Teacher Mentoring Program (ATMP).
(e) Verification from the ATPO of successful
			 program admission/enrollment and a comprehensive outline of all required
			 courses and modules for the appropriate teaching field and grade
			 level(s).
(f) Verification of
			 current passing scores on the approved subject area assessment(s) as outlined
			 in Rule 290-3-3-.60(5).
(g) Up to three one-year alternative
			 certificates based on this pathway may be held.
1. All alternative certificates under this
			 pathway, must be held within four scholastic years from the July 1, beginning
			 date of the first certificate.
2.
			 An individual may not be employed for more than three scholastic years on the
			 basis of holding an alternative certificate of any combination or any
			 type.
(7)
Applicant Requirements for the Professional Educator Certificate.
(a) Successful criminal history background
			 check by both the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation (ASBI) and the Federal
			 Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the ALSDE.
(b) Verification of United States citizenship
			 or lawful presence in the United States.
(c) Hold a bachelor's or higher degree from a
			 senior institution that was regionally accredited at the time the degree was
			 earned.
(d) Recommended for a
			 Professional Educator Certificate in the appropriate teaching field and grade
			 level(s) by the ATPO. The recommendation must include verification of
			 successful pathway completion and a comprehensive outline of all required
			 courses and modules for the appropriate teaching field and grade
			 level(s).
(e) Verification of
			 current passing scores on the approved subject area
and
pedagogy
			 assessment(s) as outlined in Rule
			 290-3-3-.60(5).
(8)
Compliance with the
			 United States Department of Education Regulations.
This rule applies to
			 Grades K-6 and 6-12 Collaborative Special Education Teacher. In addition to
			 meeting pathway requirements, the ATPO must ensure:
1. The individual is provided with
			 high-quality professional development that is sustained, intensive, and
			 classroom-focused in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom
			 instruction, before and while teaching.
2. The individual participates in a program
			 with intensive supervision that consists of structured guidance.
3. The individual demonstrates satisfactory
			 progress toward full certification.
(9)
Progress Report.
The
			 approved organization shall annually submit a progress report detailing the
			 number of individuals who completed the program during the year and
			 verification of continued compliance with
			 290-3-3-.60(2).
(10)
Termination and Reviews.
(a) The State Superintendent of Education
			 reserves the right to require special reviews in response to the adoption of
			 new laws standards, significant changes to existing standards, or evidence of
			 contributing factors.
(b) The State
			 Superintendent of Education reserves the right to rescind approval of an
			 approved ATPO for noncompliance with this rule.
(11)
General Information.
(a) The alternative certificate and the
			 Professional Educator Certificate will be issued at the bachelor's degree level
			 as all other alternative certificates.
(b) An individual who is issued a
			 Professional Educator Certificate pursuant to this section may apply for
			 certificate renewal and shall in all other respects be treated in the same
			 manner as an individual who holds a Professional Educator Certificate granted
			 upon successful completion of traditional, in-state teaching certification
			 programs.