Houston ISD Alternative Certification Program

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Houston ISDAlternative Certification Program

• Admission Requirements
• Sharon Warren, Certification Officer
• swarren3_at_houstonisd.org
• Training and Support
• Karen Owen, Director
• kowen_at_houstonisd.org

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Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors degree
• Degree from another country
• Test of Spoken English (TSE) http//www.toefl.or
  g
• Overall grade point average of 2.5 or last 60
  college hours 2.75
• TASP/THEA - Reading 250, Math 230, Writing 220
• Language Assessment Scale (LAS) Bilingual/Foreign
  Language candidates
• Interview

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Miscellaneous information

• Will have to take and pass the content TExES
  before entering the classroom
• Submit all transcripts
• Not eligible if employed for 3 years on permit or
  have completed an education degree that included
  student teaching
• Can not repeat interview
• Language

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Requirements

• Elementary, Special Education, Bilingual
  Education
• 24 semester hours, must include one 3-hour course
  in each
• English
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies (not psychology and sociology)

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4-8 Requirements

• Single subject 18 semester hours with 6 hours
  advanced
• English Language Arts and Reading
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Generalist 36 semester hours with 9 hours in
  two of the areas and at least 6 hours in the two
  remaining areas as listed above
• Dual subject 18 semester hours with 6 hours
  advanced in each subject area
• English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies
• Mathematics/Science

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8-12 Requirements

• 24 semester hours with 12 hours advanced

• ESL Requirements
• 18 semester hours of English with 6 hours
  advanced

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Training

• Learner Centered Proficiencies
• Integrated Field Experiences
• Classroom Management and Organization
• Lesson Planning
• Curriculum
• Instructional Strategies
• Assessment
• Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities
• Technology Integration
• Professional Portfolio
• Observations of Master Teachers

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Training

• University of St. Thomas
• Courses vary with certification area
• Courses offered in the evening during Summer I,
  Summer II, Fall, and Spring semesters
• 3-5 graduate-level courses 9 to 15 hours
• Some courses offered on-line

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Support

• ACP Staff
• Supervisors
• Managers
• Director
• Provide training, classroom observations,
  modeling, monitoring, . . .
• Recommends certification to State Board
• Principal
• Provides support and resources
• Completes observations and teacher appraisal
• Provides a recommendation to ACP for certification

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Support

• Teacher Mentor
• Provides support as master teacher in the same
  school
• Completes monthly observations
• Provides continuity for two years
• Extension for Second Year
• For continued support
• As recommended by the principal
• To complete benchmark requirements
• To complete TExES exams

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Approximate Costs

• Application fee 75
• Registration fee for UST 35
• University coursework, per course 300
• Probationary Certificate
  52
• Fingerprinting Fee 47
• TExES and TOPT, per exam 82
• Program fee (payroll deduction) 3,750
• Application for certification 77

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For Additional Information and the ACP
Application

• Check the ACP Website
• http//dept.houstonisd.org/acp