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Frequently Asked Questions
WILL THE PROGRAM REQUIRE MUCH OF A TIME COMMITMENT? Yes. The Texas A&M University-Texarkana Alternative Certification Program is an intense accelerated route to teacher certification. Attendance is required for all A&M-Texarkana ACP training. In addition to fulfillment of all teaching responsibilities during the school year, interns continue coursework; complete observations of master teachers; prepare for and take state required certification examinations; as well as complete necessary documentation. The program is designed for highly committed candidates to the teaching profession.
WHEN SHOULD I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION? The ACP is a 13-15 month program which begins with Summer I. Although applications are accepted year round, we require submission prior to May 1st. Consideration may be given to applications submitted after May 1st, but is not guaranteed. Early submission is highly recommended.
WHAT IS NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB)? Federal No Child Left Behind Legislation (NCLB) requires districts to employ teachers who are considered “Highly Qualified.” To be considered highly qualified, content teachers for grades 4-8 and 8-12 must have a Bachelor’s degree in their content area or at least 24 semester hours with 12 semester hours of upper division university coursework in their content area and/or have passed the content TExES. EC-6 Generalist individuals must pass the EC-6 Generalist exam. Special education teachers may be considered highly qualified when they have passed a content TExES exam and the EC-12 Special Education exam.
IS THE THEA REQUIRED EVEN THOUGH I WAS “TASP EXEMPT” BY MY UNIVERSITY? Educator preparation programs must require assessment of college level skills in reading, oral and written communication, and math. This requirement may be met in various ways. The ACP Office will determine if you have met, and will notify you if additional documentation or testing is required.
ONCE I APPLY AND MEET BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AM I ENROLLED IN THE A&M-TEXARKANA ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM? No. Submitting an application begins the process of possible admittance to the A&M-Texarkana Alternative Certification Program.
IF I DO NOT HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY COURSEWORK AT THIS TIME, MAY I STILL SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS PROGRAM? You may submit an application; however, you will not be admitted to the program until all entry requirements are satisfactorily completed and documentation is on file with the A&M-Texarkana ACP Office. Processing of your ACP application will not begin until application fee is received.
WHERE WILL THE ACP TRAINING TAKE PLACE? If you are enrolled with the Online Program, 75% of the coursework is web-based. The other 25% is composed of Saturday Seminars which meet on the NTCC Campus in Mt. Pleasant. Saturday Seminars meet every other Saturday during the summers and once a month during the fall and spring semesters. If you are enrolled in the University Based Program, you will enroll in traditional college courses that meet regularly on the Texarkana campus.
DOES A&M-TEXARKANA ACP PLACE INTERNS IN TEACHING POSITIONS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS? No. After admittance into the Alternative Certification Program, each applicant is responsible for securing his/her own employment with a public school district. The A&M-Texarkana ACP Office assists in this process. A list of eligible individuals will be compiled and forwarded to participating school districts on request. Contact area Texas schools (See “Listing of Schools”) and complete applications. Check school websites and the Region 8 website- http://www.reg8.net for job openings. Another excellent opportunity is the job fairs some districts have each spring. When a job becomes available, contact the district and ask that your application be pulled for consideration
WHEN DO DISTRICTS HIRE TEACHERS? It varies by district, but typically begins in spring and continues through late summer.
AM I PAID A SALARY DURING MY INTERNSHIP YEAR? Yes. Candidates hired by a participating school district receive the same salary as other first-year teachers, minus the program fee. As with any employment, it is the employee’s responsibility to inquire as to salary and benefits. An intern is hired as teacher of record and is an employee of the school district. As such, interns are subject to all rules and responsibilities outlined in local school board policies
WHAT SALARY CAN I EXPECT TO EARN? It is the applicant’s responsibility to check with individual districts about salary scales and benefit packages.
WHEN WILL I BEGIN RECEIVING MY SALARY? In most districts, teachers are paid on a monthly basis on the last working day of the month over a 12 month period beginning in September and extending through August. Some districts will pay new teachers over 13 months so they can receive a check in August. It is the applicant’s responsibility to solicit this information from districts prior to accepting a position.
IF AN EMERGENCY PREVENTS MY COMPLETION OF INTERNSHIP, AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE ACP INTERNSHIP FEE? No. If an intern resigns because of emergency circumstances, the monthly deduction ceases at the end of the month when the resignation becomes effective. Those who satisfactorily complete requirements for certification are responsible for payment of the entire program fee even if they resign their district positions at the end of the internship year.
ONCE I COMPLETE MY INTERNSHIP YEAR, DO I AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE TEACHING CERTIFICATION? No. Completing the internship year does not automatically entitle you to certification. You must meet all state, district, and A&M-Texarkana ACP requirements. Additionally, the A&M-Texarkana ACP Office and the Teacher Certification Office must recommend you for certification. You must have passed all exams required for your certification area, the appropriate PPR exam, earned a “Satisfactory” in both sections of the ACP Internship, not earned less than a “C” in any of your ACP coursework, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all ACP coursework, and achieved at least ‘proficient’ on your district teacher appraisal.
HOW CAN I GET ANSWERS TO OTHER QUESTIONS? Always feel free to email the A&M-Texarkana ACP Office. We understand you are making very important decisions and need to be fully informed to proceed with confidence.
Alternative Certification Program Office Contact Information
Sara Lawrence, Director sara.lawrence@tamut.edu
Debbie Hopkins, Program Assistant debbie.hopkins@tamut.edu
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