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 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 program features graduate level university credit and specialized training in a variety of methods to teach Special Education students, and on-the-job paid internship. The program fulfills a significant need for teachers to work with Special Education students in Region 14 schools and in other districts in Texas.

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.

IN ADDITION TO:
√ Minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on 24 semester hours in a combination of subjects which include English, Mathematics, Natural Science, and the Social Studies area 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 and is offered at Abilene Christian University.
√ Acceptable score on Critical Thinking Test
√ Interview and recommendation by the ESC Screening Committee.

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 a one year internship and satisfactorily complete all training and project requirements.
√Complete observation/training in special education classrooms in the spring.
√Complete nine (9) semester hours of University course work beginning the spring semester, continuing into the summer semester and maintaining an overall 3.0 GPA.
√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 $6,500 including all tuition and training. A non-refundable payment of $2,500 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

The Alternative Certification Program is designed only for highly committed candidates who are able to excel in an intense, fast-paced training environment. Interns will be expected to attend all training classes.

Abilene Christian University:
provides nine (9) graduate hours of training in curriculum, reading, teaching strategies, classroom management, and actual “hands on” experience working with special children.

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, and 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:

√Maintain a 3.0 GPA on graduate coursework.

√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 university coursework.

√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 2, 2006
thru
November 30, 2006

√Oct. 2, 2006 – Nov. 30, 2006
Applications accepted

√December 2, 2006
Administration of Critical
Thinking Test

√December 4 – 7, 2006
Interviews

√December 15, 2006
Notification of Acceptance

√January / May – 2007
ACU Spring (3 hours)

√January 4, 2007
Beginning of ESC On-Going Training
(Fridays & Saturdays - TBA)

√January, 2007 – May, 2007
Classroom Observations

√June 4, 2007 – July 5, 2007
ACU Summer ( 6 hours)

√July 10 –27, 2007
ESC Training

*August, 2007 – April, 2008
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

To browse Region 14’s Workshop Catalog Click Here.