State Board Approves New Rules for Alternate Route Teachers

State Board Approves New Rules for Alternate Route Teachers

The State Board of Education, at its Nov. 19 meeting, approved new rules requiring “alternate route” teachers to receive additional training.

The alternate route program is a non-traditional teacher preparation program designed for college graduates who have not completed a formal program at an accredited college, but who wish to obtain the necessary training to become a New Jersey certified teacher. Alternate route teachers now make up more than a third of all new hires in N.J. public schools.

Alternate route teachers had been required to take 200 hours of training once on the job and to work with veteran teachers for several months. Under the new rules, in addition to those requirements, alternate route teachers will be required to take 24 hours of training in class management and other pedagogy skills before they begin in the classroom. Alternate route teachers going into elementary schools will need an additional 90 hours of training in teaching math and reading.

The requirement will take effect for alternate route teachers starting jobs after September 2009; the first group impacted will be those beginning work mid-year 2009-2010.

High School Redesign The State Board also heard discussion on the topic of high school redesign, including testimony on the proposal that high school students be required to show competency in Algebra II. Dr. Todd Bonsall, the principal of Cumberland County Technical Education Center, and a few of the school’s students voiced concerns that such a requirement would interfere with the time students have available to obtain industry certifications and real-world job skills.

Other attendees testified about their concerns on the implementation costs for high school redesign proposals. Peg Kinsell of the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) testified that her organization supports high school redesign, but is concerned about whether or not resources are available to support it, particularly for minorities and special education students.

Discussion on the topic will continue at the December State Board meeting; the Department of Education expects to have a proposal ready for high school redesign in January 2009. Complete copies of the testimony at the State Board meeting are available at the "Public Testimony" page on the State Board's Web site.