What is the Alternative Routes Program?
A program for districts, or districts in cooperation with educational service districts (ESDs) to operate partnerships WITH higher education teacher preparation programs, or consortia of higher education teacher preparation programs to provide performance-based alternative routes aimed at recruiting candidates to teaching in statewide subject matter/geographic shortage areas such as:
- Special Education
- English as a Second Language
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Science
- Mathematics
- Middle Level Math/Science
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Biology
- Earth Science
- Bilingual Education
***Other secondary subject matter shortage areas may be identified by school districts. Per RCW 28A.660, “when selecting candidates for certification through route three (alternative routes to certification), districts shall give priority to individuals who are seeking residency teacher certification in subject matter shortage areas or shortages due to geographic locations. For route three only, the districts may include additional candidates in non-shortage subject areas if the candidates are seeking endorsements with a secondary grade level designation as defined by rule by the state board of education. The districts shall disclose to candidates in non-shortage subject areas available information on the demand in those subject areas."
Alternative Route Programs
City University-Seattle
Route 1 program for employed classified instructional staff with a minimum of 3 years of classroom experience with a transferable AA degree.
Contact:
Micki Evans
Telephone: 425-709-5332
E-mail: Mickievans@cityu.edu
Website: http://www.cityu.edu/programs/soe/ba_topp.htm
City University-Seattle-MATH ONLY
City University offers a math teacher preparation program for individuals eligible for Routes 2, 3, or 4.
Contact:
Micki Evans
Telephone: 425-709-5332
E-mail: Mickievans@cityu.edu
Website: http://www.cityu.edu/programs/soe/ba_math.htm
City University-Skagit Valley
Route 1 program for employed classified instructional staff with a minimum of 3 years of classroom experience with a transferable AA degree.
Contact:
Micki Evans
Telephone: 425-709-5332
E-mail: Mickievans@cityu.edu
Website: http://www.cityu.edu/programs/soe/ba_topp.htm
ESD 105 Regional Consortia Program
ESD 105 Regional Consortia program offers a teacher preparation program for individuals eligible for Routes 2, 3, or 4.
Contact:
Robin Granger
Telephone: 509-454-5314
E-mail: robing@esd105.wednet.edu
Website:http://www.esd105.wednet.edu/LearningandTeaching/
AlternativeRoute/altrouteindex.htm
ESD 123 Regional Consortia Program
ESD 123 Regional Consortia program offers a teacher preparation program for individuals eligible for Routes 2, 3, or 4.
Contact:
Toni Neidhold
Telephone: 509-544-5762
E-mail: tneidhold@esd123.org
Website: http://www.esd123.org/index.php/alternative-route-to-teacher-certification
Heritage University- Yakima Valley and Tri-Cities
Route 1 program for employed classified instructional staff with a minimum of 1 year of classroom experience with a transferable AA degree.
Contact:
Corrine McGuigan
Telephone: 509-865-8653
E-mail: mcguigan_c@heritage.edu
Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University offers a teacher preparation program for individuals eligible for Routes 2, 3, or 4.
Contact:
Tony Aho
Telephone: 253-535-7276
E-mail: ahott@plu.edu
Website: http://www.plu.edu/~educ/prospects/alternative-routes.html
Para Pipeline Program
Green River Community College and
Seattle Central Community College
Program for employed classified instructional employees with a minimum of three years district experience and a letter of support, who wish to earn a Direct Transfer Agreement Math Education AA degree. Once an AA degree is earned, individuals will participate in a two year alternative route program at City University preparing to teach mathematics and special education or ESL. Conditional loan scholarships are available for all four years of the program.
Contact:
Green River Community College
Leslie Heizer Newquist
Telephone: 253-288-3344
E-mail: lheizernewquist@greenriver.edu
Seattle Central Community College
Lisa Saunders
Telephone: 206-587-3895
E-mail: Lsaunders@sccd.ctc.edu
Saint Martin's University
St. Martins University offers a teacher preparation program for individuals eligible for Routes 2, 3, or 4.
Contact:
Dr. Ann Gentle
Telephone: 360-438-4566
E-mail: agentle@stmartin.edu
Website: STAR Program (Secondary Teacher Alternate Route)
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University offers a teacher preparation program for individuals eligible for Routes 2, 3, or 4.
Contact:
Mr. Ted Hiemstra
Telephone: 206-378-5478
E-mail: hiemstra@spu.edu
Dr. Henry Algera
Telephone: 206-281-2367
E-mail: halgera@spu.edu
Website:http://www.spu.edu/depts/soe/academics/certifications/alternative.asp
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PLEASE NOTE: The PESB will not accept applications for admission to any of these programs.
Each program will have a separate application process.
Contact the program directly for information.
Information
for Individuals Interested in Becoming a Teacher Through an Alternative Route
Program
What
is a shortage area?
Areas for which districts have experienced difficulty in filling positions. A few of the most common shortages are listed below, however districts may have additional
secondary subject matter shortage areas. Contact the programs directly for a complete list.
- Special Education
- English as a Second Language
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Science
- Mathematics
- Middle Level Math/Science
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Biology
- Earth Science
- Bilingual Education
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Who
should I contact?
- Find
out if you are a possible candidate.
Do you qualify?
- View the following pages for contact information:
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Would
I qualify for an alternative route?
For
all four, you must be seeking teacher certification in an area that the
district in which you will intern currently has identified as a SHORTAGE
AREA. This
may include a subject area shortage, such as a shortage of high school math
or chemistry teachers or a geographic shortage.
Complete the Criteria Questionaire to
see if you qualify as a potential candidate
for the Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification.
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How
much does it cost?
What sort of financial assistance is available?
Each program will set the price for their Alternative Routes to
Teacher Certification. For more information, contact the program directly.
A limited number of conditional loan
scholarships are available for those who qualify.
Other sources of financial
assistance may be accessed at:
www.hecb.wa.gov/paying/waaidprgm/future.asp
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What's
the application process?
Each alternative route program will have their own application
process, which must include the entry requirements listed for ROUTE
1, ROUTE
2, ROUTE
3, and ROUTE 4.
Admission
into the alternative route programs is competitive and on a space-available
basis dependent on state and district funding.
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What
if I don't qualify for an alternative route?
What are other options for becoming a certified teacher?
Washington
has many outstanding teacher preparation programs. There are programs
for individuals who do not yet have a bachelor's degree, those with
bachelor's degrees seeking certification, and Master's in Teaching programs
through
which individuals can gain both their certification and a master's
degree.
For
more information on teacher preparation programs, see the certification
web site at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
at http://www.k12.wa.us/certification/profed/default.aspx.
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Routes
for Currently Employed Classified Instructional Employees
and Other Classified Employees
| Route 1 |
Classified Instructional Employees
of Washington State Public Schools with a transferable Associate degree |
| Route
2 |
Classified
Employees of Washington State Public Schools with
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degrees |
Route 1:
Who?
Classified Instructional Employees (Paraeducators/ Educational Assistants/
Instructional Aides) working for Washington State schools with transferable
associate degrees seeking residency teacher
certification with endorsements in special education or English as a second
language.
What will I have to do to complete route 1?
Candidates must complete a mentored internship, complemented by flexibly scheduled training and
coursework offered at a local site, such as a school or ESD or via K-20 network.
Candidates will obtain bachelor's degree and residency teaching certificate in two years or less.
Entry Requirements:
- 1 year of successful student interaction and leadership as a Washington State
classified instructional employee, including district or building validation
of qualifications;
- Transferable Associate degree;
- Successful passage of statewide basic skills exam,
(WEST-B)
- Meet
the good moral character, and personal fitness requirements required by
State Board rule of all applicants to teaching
(WAC
181-79A-155)
Applicants for alternative route programs who are veterans or national guard members and who meet the entry requirements for the alternative route program for which application is made shall be given preference in admission.
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Route 2:
Who can participate in route 2?
Classified Employees working for Washington State School districts with bachelors'
degrees and subject matter expertise in a shortage area seeking residency teacher certification
in a subject matter or geographic shortage area.
What will I have to do to complete Route 2?
Candidates must complete a mentored internship, complemented by flexibly scheduled training and
coursework offered at a local site, such as a school or ESD or via K-20 network.
How long will it take?
One year or less.
Entry Requirements:
- 1 year of successful student interaction and leadership working as classified staff for a
Washington State school district, including district or building validation of qualifications;
- A bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree. GPA will be considered as a factor;
- Successful
completion of the state basic skills (WEST-B) and
subject matter (WEST-E - PRAXIS II)
tests;
- Meet
the good moral character, and personal fitness requirements required by
State Board rule of all applicants to teaching (WAC 181-79A-155)
Applicants for alternative route programs who are veterans or national guard members and who meet the entry requirements for the alternative route program for which application is made shall be given preference in admission.
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Route for Individuals Employed in Other Professions Interested in Transitioning to a Teaching Career
Route 3:
Who can participate in route 3?
Individuals with bachelor's degrees, subject matter expertise
in a shortage area, and seeking residency teacher certification in a subject
matter or geographic
shortage area.
What will I have to do to complete route 3?
Cohorts of candidates shall attend an intensive summer teaching academy,
followed by a year long mentored internship.
How long will it take?
One year or less.
Entry Requirements:
- A
bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree. GPA will be considered
as a factor;
- Successful
completion of the state basic skills (WEST-B)
and subject matter (WEST-E-Praxis
II) tests; and
- Meet
the good moral character, and personal fitness requirements required by
State Board rule of all applicants to teaching
(WAC 181-79A-155)
Applicants for alternative route programs who are veterans or national guard members and who meet the entry requirements for the alternative route program for which application is made shall be given preference in admission.
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Route for Individuals with Conditional or Emergency Substitute Certificates
Route 4:
Who
can participate in route 4?
Individuals
teaching "core academic subjects", as defined by NCLB, with conditional
or emergency substitute certificates.
What
will I have to do to complete route 4?
Cohorts of candidates shall attend an intensive summer teaching academy,
followed by a year long mentored internship.
How long
will it take?
One
year or less.
Entry
Requirements:
- Current conditional or emergency substitute certificate;
- A baccalaureate
degree or higher from a regionally accredited college/university;
- External validation of
qualifications, including demonstrated successful letters of
support from school district personnel;
- Meet
the good moral character, and personal fitness requirements
required by State Board rule of all applicants to teaching
(WAC 181-79A-155) and
- Successful
completion of the state basic skills (WEST-B)
and subject
matter (WEST-E-Praxis
II) tests
Applicants for alternative route programs who are veterans or national guard members and who meet the entry requirements for the alternative route program for which application is made shall be given preference in admission.
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