Analyzing Certification Options for Special Education Teachers

The Effects of E-Mentoring on Beginning Teacher Competencies and Perceptions

“…According to Shepard and Brown (2003), almost 98% of school districts in the United States report shortages of special education teachers. Nationally, there is an 11.2% shortage of highly qualified special education teachers that translates to approximately 45,514 special education teachers (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, 2008).…”

Alternative Certified Teachers and Children at Risk

“…ACP candidates are often described as second-career professionals with a bachelor's degree in their chosen content areas and may have their degrees in an unrelated field. However, the intent of alternative routes (Shephard & Brown, 2003) is to allow people with experience and education in their professional areas to teach in their content areas.…”

Teacher efficacy, teacher burnout, and attitudes toward students with autism.

“…In contrast, traditional certificate programs involve earning a degree (taking education courses and completing student teaching) before entering the classroom. Such trajectories might result in different attitudes about special needs students (Justice, Greiner, & Anderson, 2003;Shepherd & Brown, 2003;Stoddart & Floden, 1995).…”

“…Due to the shortage of special education teachers, many individuals are becoming certified through an alternate process by taking courses while teaching in a classroom (Justice et aI., 2003;Shepherd & Brown, 2003;Stoddart & Floden, 1995). This construct is nominally coded as 0 = traditional certification program, 1 = alternate certification program.…”

“…These new teachers are working full time towards a teacher certificate through alternate certification programs. Compared to an individual with a traditional teaching certificate, teachers on an alternate certification program have the additional challenge of "starting from scratch" in their classrooms as they have not had any previous education coursework or student teaching experience and therefore are entering a classroom almost blind (Justice et aI., 2003;Shepherd & Brown, 2003;Stoddart & Floden, 1995).…”