Analysis of Kentucky's policies
Kentucky offers several options as alternate routes to teacher certification: Exceptional Work Experience Certification, Local District Training Program Certification, College Faculty Certification, Veterans of the Armed Services Certification, University-Based Alternative Route to Certification, Institute Alternative Route to Certification, and Teach For America (TFA). Kentucky also offers an Adjunct Instructor Certification to professionals with expertise in a specific subject area who may be employed in part-time positions. Teachers working under this certification shall be employed on an annual contract basis and are not eligible for tenure or other benefits provided to nonprobationary license holders.
Coursework Requirements: Kentucky does not set requirements on the nature or quantity of preparation coursework for the Exceptional Work Experience Certification, College Faculty Certification, Adjunct Instructor Certification and Veterans of the Armed Services Certification programs.
Candidates of the Local District Training Program Certification must undergo a minimum of 250 hours of formal instruction, split into three phases. Phase 1 includes a full-time seminar and practicum that lasts at least eight weeks and includes preparation on an introduction to basic teaching skills through supervised teaching experiences with students and classroom management techniques. Phase 2 and 3 each consist of 18 weeks of formal instruction that include informal and formal observation and feedback on a candidate's performance. Candidates must take the professional knowledge portion of the core battery of the National Teacher Examination no earlier than the Phase 3 training period.
University-Based Alternative Route to Certification and Institute Alternative Route to Certification program providers must meet the state's Education Professional Standards Board program standards, which include, but are not limited to, providing preparation on research-based classroom management techniques and methodologies to meet students' diverse educational needs. University-Based Alternative Route to Certification candidates must complete a university-based preparation program while teaching full time. The preparation program provider determines a candidate's coursework by assessing the candidate's educational background and then developing "a plan of coursework that shall adequately prepare the candidate for successful completion of the requirements for program completion and certification for the areas and grade ranges that correspond with the candidate's school placement."
This Institute Alternative Route to Certification also requires elementary candidates to complete a 240-hour institute that takes place on six-hour days for eight weeks. Content includes research-based teaching strategies in reading and math; research on child and adolescent growth; knowledge of individual differences, including teaching exceptional children; and methods of classroom management. Middle and secondary candidates complete similar subject-matter in a 180-hour institute that takes place on six-hour days for six weeks. Candidates must also participate in the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program.
TFA requires candidates to complete a five-week intensive training program, which includes "instruction in goal-oriented, standards-based instruction, diagnosing and assessing students, lesson planning and instructional delivery, classroom management, maximizing learning for diverse students, and teaching methodologies."
Induction Support: Kentucky requires that candidates in the Local District Training Certification, College Faculty Certification, Veterans of the Armed Services Certification, and University-Based Alternative Route to Certification programs must participate in a one-year teacher internship program. Through the internship, candidates are guided by a beginning teacher committee that is comprised of a resource teacher, the principal of the school where the internship is served, and a teacher educator appointed by a state-approved teacher preparation program. The committee is required to meet with candidates at least three times per year, and they must also observe candidates in their classrooms at least three times per year. The resource teacher must spend at least 20 hours working with the candidate in the classroom setting, and at least 50 hours consulting candidates outside of classroom time or attending assessment meetings.
The state recently changed its policy to now no longer require candidates in the Exceptional Work Experience Certification program to have to participate in the internship program.
In addition, candidates in the Local District Training Certification program are provided a professional support team, comprised of the school principal, an experienced teacher, an instructional supervisor, and a faculty member from an institute of higher education. This team guides each candidate in the Local District Training Certification program through an individualized professional development plan. Candidates in the University-Based Alternative Route to Certification program must experience at least 15 hours of observations, annually, from university faculty and a district-based mentor.
TFA candidates receive one-on-one coaching throughout their residency.
Kentucky does not require that Adjunct Instructor Certification candidates receive any induction support.
Supervised Practice Teaching Requirements: Kentucky's alternate route candidates, except for those in the Local District Training Certification program and TFA, are not required to participate in a supervised practice teaching experience. The Local District Training Certification program requires candidates to practice teach under the supervision of their professional support team. TFA requires a supervised practice teaching experience as part of its preparation program.
Citation
SB 117
KRS 161.028; 161.030 (5)-(8); 161.048; 161.049
16 KAR 09:060; 9:070, 9:080
Education Professional Standards Board, Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification: http://www.epsb.ky.gov/certification/certaltroutes.asp
TFA training and support: https://www.teachforamerica.org/join-tfa/leading-classroom/training-support
TFA Summer Training: https://www.teachforamerica.org/join-tfa/leading-classroom/training-support/summer-training-experience
Recommendations for Kentucky
Establish coursework guidelines for all alternate route preparation programs.
Kentucky should articulate guidelines regarding the nature and amount of coursework required for all candidates. Requirements should be
manageable given the time constraints of a novice teacher and contribute to the immediate needs of new teachers. Appropriate
coursework should include grade-level or subject-level seminars, methodology in
the content area, classroom management, assessment and scientifically based
early reading instruction. However well-intentioned, any course that is not fundamentally practical and immediately necessary should be eliminated as a requirement.
Strengthen the induction experience for new teachers.
Although most alternate route programs in Kentucky provide new teachers with mentors, it is unclear that all mentoring programs are structured for new teacher success. The state should ensure that all alternate route candidates have access to high-quality induction experiences that include: intensive mentoring with full classroom support in the first few weeks or months of school, a reduced teaching load, and release time to allow new teachers to observe experienced teachers during the school day.
Offer opportunities to practice teach.
In addition to intensive induction support, Kentucky should provide its candidates with a practice teaching opportunity prior to their placement in the classroom.
State response to our analysis
Kentucky was helpful in providing NCTQ with facts that enhanced this analysis.
Kentucky noted that candidates may also enter the teaching profession by obtaining an Adjunct Instructor Certificate.
Updated: December 2017