What is an Alternative Teacher Licensing Program?

 

 

In January 1991, the Colorado State Board of Education adopted policies to implement the Alternative Teacher Licensure Program. This program provides an opportunity for candidates to become licensed as teachers through a site-based, one-year program of training and supervision.

 

While participating in the program, each candidate has a professional support team to provide instruction, supervision and performance evaluations. The team consists of a principal, an experienced, licensed mentor teacher and a representative of an institution of higher education.

 

Alternative teachers are employees of the school district, charter or private school. Salaries vary by school district and this information is available from the school districts. Alternative Teachers are not guaranteed continued employment after completion of the one-year program. Upon successful completion of the Alternative Teacher Licensure Training Program, the candidate is eligible for a three-year Provisional Teacher License. This is the standard entry-level license in Colorado.

 

 

Required Qualifications

 

All applicants must be employees of Peak to Peak Charter School.  Priority is given to teachers who have completed at least one year of teaching at Peak to Peak. 

 

All applicants must be endorsed by the executive principal and the candidate’s direct supervisors at the school. 

 

All applicants must exhibit the following traits:

 

·         Strong desire to work effectively with students

·         Ability to work beyond job description

·         Ability to manage an organized and professional classroom

·         Desire to develop a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and objectivity with parents and students

·         Intellectual curiosity in primary academic discipline

·         Leadership capacity

·         Commitment to uphold the following values:  trustworthiness, honesty, diligence, open communication, fairness, and courtesy

 

 

Program Components

 

225+ contact hours for training and professional development

Access to professional development library

Mentoring by trained content mentor

Full-time teacher position (one school term)

Monthly support meetings

Self-assessment and formal evaluation

Support for completion of eligibility portfolio

Earn up to 6 graduate credits

 

 

Program Benefits

 

 

Accelerated, customized curriculum

225+ contact hours for training and professional development

12 month program

Affordable

Flexibility in scheduling

Hands-on

Takes less time than some programs

Earns full licensure in the State of Colorado

Meets requirements of No Child Left Behind

 

 

Application Process

 

 

  1. Schedule a meeting with the Executive Principal of Peak to Peak Charter School to formally discuss entering the program. 

 

  1. Submit a complete application packet to the Colorado Department of Education with all required materials and fees. The endorsement area must be selected from the available list and stated on the application. You may select up to two areas in which to be evaluated.

 

  1. CDE evaluates your application and tracnscripts to determine if you meet subject matter requirements.  Typically, a college major (30 semester hours) in the subject to be taught will satisfy the requirements. Evaluations take eight weeks.

 

  1. CDE’s evaluation will be mailed to you. If there is a deficiency, you must complete required coursework prior to entering the program or supply documentation of how the deficiency has been fulfilled. Re-submit a copy of the original evaluation when supplying documents or sending transcripts to CDE.

 

  1. Sign up for and pass a content area assessment test. CDE accepts test results from the PLACE® assessment and results from the PRAXIS II exam in some endorsement areas. The test results will automatically be sent to CDE. These assessments are given by independent companies.

 

 

CDE Information

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/wizard_alt1.asp

 

 

Peak to Peak Information

 

To schedule a meeting with the Executive Principal, please contact Traci Schoeneweis at traci.schoeneweis@bvsd.org.