Middle School Teacher Preparation : Alaska

Analysis of Alaska's policies

Alaska offers, but does not require, a middle school endorsement (grades 5-8) for certain subjects. In addition, the state does not explicitly require a major or minor in the subject areas that candidates plan to teach.

Regrettably, Alaska also allows middle school teachers to teach on a generalist K-8 license. New middle school teachers are not required to pass a subject-matter test to attain licensure. Subject-matter tests are only required for professional certification, which occurs after three years of teaching.

Citation

4 AAC 12.305 Endorsements http://www.eed.state.ak.us/teachercertification/app02.html

Recommendations for Alaska

Eliminate K-8 generalist license.
Alaska should not allow middle school teachers to teach on a generalist license that does not differentiate between the preparation of middle school teachers and that of elementary teachers. These teachers are less likely to be adequately prepared to teach core academic areas at the middle school level because their preparation requirements are not specific to the middle or secondary levels and they need not pass a subject-matter test in each subject they teach. Adopting middle school teacher preparation policies for all such teachers will help ensure that students in grades 7 and 8 have teachers who are appropriately prepared to teach grade level content, which is different and more advanced than what elementary teachers teach.   

Strengthen middle school teachers' subject-matter preparation.
Alaska should encourage middle school teachers who plan to teach multiple subjects to earn two minors in two core academic areas. Middle school candidates who intend to teach a single subject should earn a major in that area.

Require subject-matter testing for middle school teacher candidates.
Alaska should require subject-matter testing for all middle school teacher candidates in every core academic area they intend to teach as a condition of initial licensure.

State response to our analysis

Alaska recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.