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Alternative Teacher Preparation (ATP) Program
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is seeking candidates in selected fields who would like to teach at the secondary level and who do not meet requirements for teacher certification. These candidates may be eligible to participate in an alternative pathway toward certification after being hired by HCPSS as a conditionally certified teacher. The ATP program is part of a continued partnership between HCPSS and Howard Community College (HCC). Usually ten candidates are selected each school year.
Becoming a Teacher for Non-Education Majors
There are two basic ways to become a certified teacher if you do not hold a teaching certificate:
1. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you may wish to enroll in a Master of Arts in Teaching or teacher certification program at a college or university of your choice. If you wish to complete your studies in the state of Maryland, we recommend you choose a Maryland Institution of Higher Learning with State Approved Programs. A list of those institutions can be found by visiting http://directory.msde.state.md.us./map/LocalFrames.asp. The programs often offer a great deal of support while you earn your certification in one or two years. Most subject areas are available and you are able to apply to HCPSS as a certified teacher applicant upon graduation. Local community colleges also offer teacher education courses.
2. If you have a bachelor’s degree, you may wish to submit an application to be considered as a conditionally certified teacher. Occasionally, we hire individuals under a conditional certificate in critical shortage areas. For example, if a Technology Education vacancy exists in one of our schools and there are no certified candidates available, we may consider hiring a person who has an undergraduate and/or graduate degree in that area or closely related area. These candidates must complete all interviews and credential/background reviews as would a certified candidate. Conditionally certified HCPSS teachers are then invited to enroll in the ATP Program during the fall of their first school year subject to meeting eligibility requirements.
ATP Subject Areas Eligible for the 2007-2008 School Year
- Biology (7-12)
- Chemistry (7-12)
- Earth/Space Science (7-12)
- English (7-12)
- Family and Consumer Sciences (7-12)
- Mathematics (7-12)
- Physical Science (7-12)
- Physics (7-12)
- Technology Education (7-12)
- World Languages (7-12)
Benefits of the Program
- A full year of mentor support
- Free tuition for required coursework
- Free books and materials for coursework
- Courses tailored to the needs of the participants
- A supportive cohort of like-minded professionals
- Undergraduate credit through Howard Community College including required credit hours in secondary reading
- Eligibility for a Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) (highly qualified status) certificate
- Eligibility for a Standard Professional Certificate I (SPC I) upon successful completion of the ATP program and one year on RTC
- The chance to make an immediate difference in the lives of children
ATP Application Process
The minimum requirements for the Alternative Teacher Preparation Program are listed on the following chart along with a comparison of this program and the conditional certification route. For more information on conditional certification, contact the Maryland State Department of Education's Certification office at www.marylandpublicschools.org/msde/ or 410-767-0412.
|
Conditional/Provisional Certification |
Alternative
Teacher Preparation Certification |
|
Minimum
Requirements to be Considered |
|
|
- Bachelor’s degree or
higher including 24 credits in area of
certification and 6 credits in related areas
- 2.75 overall GPA or
content area GPA
- Qualifying scores on
PRAXIS tests (reading, writing and math) and the
appropriate PRAXIS II content tests
- Hired as a conditionally certified teacher in the HCPSS
|
|
Program
Requirements |
- 21 credits in
professional education
- 36 credits in
content area of certification
- Qualifying scores on
the PRAXIS I tests and the appropriate PRAXIS II
content/pedagogy tests
- One year
satisfactory full-time teaching experience at the
appropriate age/grade level in the area of
certification
|
- 7 undergraduate credits of study in winter/spring of the first school year
- 3 undergraduate credits in summer after the first school year
- 5 undergraduate credits of study during the second school year
- Mentoring program
- Qualifying scores on the appropriate PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II pedagogy tests, if applicable
- One year satisfactory full-time teaching experience at the appropriate age/grade level in the area of certification with RTC
|
|
Costs |
- Tuition reimbursement is available upon completion of coursework ($225 per graduate credit, $155 per undergraduate credit)
- PRAXIS I and II tests costs covered by applicant
|
- Coursework costs covered by HCPSS
- PRAXIS I test costs covered by applicant if taken prior to HCPSS employment
- PRAXIS II test costs covered by applicant if taken prior to HCPSS employment
|
|
Certification Upon Completion |
- Eligible for
Standard Professional Certificate I (SPC I)
|
- Eligible for
Standard Professional Certificate I (SPC I)
|
PRAXIS I and II testing information can be secured by visiting
www.ets.org/praxis/.
ATP Selection Process
ATP candidates are current conditionally certificated HCPSS teachers in the identified ATP subject areas. These teachers will be identified and invited to consider entry into the ATP program during the fall of their first school year. These teachers must meet all ATP prerequisites and will be expected to complete all aspects of the program. Each teacher’s file will be screened and analyzed by the HCPSS Office of Human Resources staff prior to entry into the program. The screening and analysis includes a review of the candidate’s credentials including but not limited to:
- Official university transcripts
- PRAXIS test scores
Pre-employment Training, Internship, and Residency
ATP teachers complete a four-week internship during the winter of their first school year. Documentation of mentoring throughout the conditional teaching experience will be provided by a school-based supervision team, which could include administrators, department chairs, team leaders or teacher mentors. Summer coursework includes required participation in the HCPSS New Teacher Orientation (NTO) in August 2008.
|
Course # |
Pre-employment
Training Activity |
Timeline |
Location
/
Mode |
Credits |
|
EDUC-267 |
Methods of Teaching
Secondary Education |
January - May
2008 |
HCPSS regular course, face-to-face learning |
3 credits |
|
EDUC-992 |
ATP Internship |
January 2008
(4 weeks) |
HCPSS
School-based |
3 credits |
| EDUC-993 |
ATP Seminar, Part I |
February - June
2008 |
HCPSS, blended instruction |
1 credit |
|
EDUC-202 |
Reading in the Content Area,
Part I |
July - August
2008 |
HCC regular course, Online |
3 credits |
HCPSS applies for Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC).
|
Course # |
Residency |
Timeline |
Location
/ Mode |
Credits |
|
EDUC-206 |
Reading in the Content Area,
Part II |
August - December
2008 |
HCC regular course, face-to-face learning |
3 credits |
|
EDUC-994 |
ATP Seminar,
Part II |
August - December
2008 |
HCPSS, blended instruction |
2 credits |
HCPSS applies for Standard Professional Certificate I after candidate has taught 12 months on RTC certificate.
For More Information
Contact the HCPSS Office of Human Resources at 410-313-6693.
The ATP Program is dependent on Howard County Board of Education funding and school system needs.
The Howard County Public School System is an equal opportunity employer. |
