The Region 14 ESC Alternative Certification Program (ACP) provides an opportunity for individuals who have earned a college degree, but not a teaching certificate, to participate in an intensive program. This program is designed only for highly committed candidates who are able to excel in a fast-paced training environment.

This is a short-term teacher preparation program to teach learning and/or physically disabled students. Qualified individuals, who successfully complete the program, are awarded an EC-12 Special Education Standard Certificate that is recognized throughout the State of Texas.

The ACP training will feature methods to teach Special Education including the required state approved TEKS curriculum. A one-year paid internship in lieu of student teaching will be required in a school district that has a need for a Special Education teacher.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
√ Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.
√ Completed application with official transcripts from all universities.
√ Payment of a nonrefundable $60.00 application fee.
√ Minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, OR 2.75 on last 60 hrs.

All Applicants:
√ Combination of 24 semester hours in math, social studies, natural sciences, and English - a minimum of 3 hours are required in each of these 4 core subjects with a total GPA of 2.50 OR 30 points above passing on all areas of the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) formerly TASP.
√ Official documentation of the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA). The THEA is required of all applicants.
√ Acceptable score on Critical Thinking Test
√ Interview and recommendation by the ESC Screening Committee.
√ Billingual Applicants - Must pass the Spanish Woodcock-Munoz Language Survey (WC-MLS).


Meeting application requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program. The number of interns must be limited.

NOTE: Being accepted into the ACP does not guarantee employment by a school district. Upon being accepted, the applicant must secure his/her own employment.

INTERN REQUIREMENTS:
√ Secure a contract from a school district as a probationary teacher in special education. A
position may be secured out of the region, but an additional $1,000 will be added to the
cost of the program.
√ Complete an internship and satisfactorily complete all observations, trainings, and project requirements.
√ Earn a satisfactory score on the district’s appraisal instrument.
√ Pass TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards)
√ Receive recommendations for certification by the principal and ESC consultant.

The cost of the program is $5,000 including all tuition and training. A non-refundable payment of $1,000 will be required upon acceptance into the program. The balance of $4,000 may be prorated over 10 months & payable to Region 14 in the form of payroll deduction. This does not include:

√ Cost of textbooks
√ TExES fees
√ Certification fees
√ SBEC - fingerprinting


Independent School Districts
who hire special education intern teachers at a first year teacher’s salary provide administrative supervision, evaluate the interns, and name a mentor for the school year. The current state salary for a beginning teacher is $27,320.

Region 14 Education Service Center
provides pre-service training in the spring & summer and on-going training throughout the internship. The ACP consultant monitors the program. The consultant maintains close contact with interns, mentors, and administrators to assist them in meeting all state requirements. The consultant formally observes the intern a minimum of three (3) times during the year.

In Order to Receive Certification,the Intern must:

√ Teach one full year as an intern on a probationary certificate.

√ Receive satisfactory score on the district’s appraisal instrument.

√ Complete all training hours and requirements.

√ Complete assignments and projects satisfactorily.

√ Pass the TExES exams (2) in the areas of:
*EC-12 Special Education
*EC-12 Pedagogy & Professional Responsibilities.

√ Receive recommendations from both the principal and the ESC consultant for teacher certification.

√ Certificates received through ACP are as valid as certificates received through a university teacher preparation program.

Applications Accepted:
October 7, 2007
thru
November 30, 2007

Oct. 1, 2007 – Nov. 30, 2007
Applications accepted

December 1, 2007
Administration of Critical
Thinking Test

December 3 – 7, 2007
Interviews

December 14, 2007
Notification of Acceptance

January 7, 2008
Beginning of ESC On-Going Training
(Dates - TBA)

January, 2008 – April, 2008
Classroom Observations/ESC Trainings

June 2008
ESC Training

July 8-25, 2008
ESC Training

*August, 2008 – April, 2009
On-going Saturday training - TBA

*ACP IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

John Stevens, Consultant for Special Education & Alternative Certification

Phone: (325) 675-8630
E-mail: jwstevens@esc14.net

Janice Hill, Secretary

Phone: (325) 675-8605
E-mail: jchill@esc14.net

Alternative Certification is also offered in the areas of Math and Science.
To browse Region 14’s Workshop Catalog Click Here.