Center News: ACI's Alternative and Accelerated Certification Program

Since 2003, ACI’s Alternative and Accelerated Certification program (Transition to Teaching and Illinois Special Education Collaborative) has helped college-educated adults transition to new careers teaching in high-need schools, especially in shortage areas such as math, science, and special education. Currently, 324 candidates have entered Alternative Certification Partnerships and 214 new teachers of bilingual education, math, and science are already teaching.

Currently, Center partnerships include certification programs in math and science, special education, bilingual education, language arts, and music. All programs culminate in a master's degree; most enable candidates to earn certification while they work in the classroom; many benefit from federal funding and other subsidies that make them more affordable; and some require that new teachers work in their sponsoring district for a defined period following graduation. Requirements and start dates for each program vary depending on the college offerings/programs.

Prospective applicants to Center partnership programs should note the following:

• All applicants must pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills before being admitted to any of the Center’s partnerships, and those applicants seeking a certificate in secondary education also must pass the Illinois Content Area Test in their target discipline. TESTS MUST BE PASSED BEFORE CANDIDATES BEGIN ANY PROGRAM. Tests are administered through the Illinois State Board of Education and are offered six times per year. For test information, go to www.icts.nesinc.com.
• Center partnerships involve a two step admission process: Applicants must meet criteria established by 1) the college or university in which they will be enrolled and 2) their employing school district.

Alternative and Accelerated Certification Partnerships:

• Secondary Math and Sciences: Dominican University-Chicago (www.dom.edu); North Park University-Chicago (www.northpark.edu): McKendree University-Metro East St. Louis and Southern Illinois (www.mckendree.edu)
• Language Arts and Music Metro East St. Louis (www.mckendree.edu)
• Special Education Chicago (Dominican University www.dom.edu)

For additional information about each of Alternative and Accelerated Certification Programs, please visit the colleges' websites. Link into their College of Education webpage.

For additional information regarding the partnerships of ACI's Center for Success in High-Need Schools with each college, please contact Charles Mininger, program officer.