Expanding the Pool of Teachers Policy
Alaska limits the usage and providers of its alternate route.
Alaska's Transition to Teaching (AKT2) program is only available for candidates seeking certification at the secondary level. AKT2 candidates must be employed in one of the 15 high-need partnering school districts.
This state-run program is the only authorized alternate route; consequently, the state does not support a diversity of providers.
Broaden alternate route usage.
Alaska should reconsider grade-level and geographic restrictions on its alternate route. Alternate routes should not be programs of last resort for hard-to-staff subjects, grade levels or geographic areas but rather a way to expand the teacher pipeline throughout the state.
Encourage diversity of alternate route providers.
Alaska should specifically authorize alternate route programs run by local school districts and nonprofits, as well as institutions of higher education. A good diversity of providers helps all programs, both university- and non-university-based, to improve.
Alaska recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.